Children's World Atlas

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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

ong o Cape of Good Hope

So

h ut

w

In

di

Am u

r

Malay Peninsula

Borneo

an

R

id

va

Tr

Kerguelen

an

M

e

h

Timor Sea

G

Great Sandy Desert

AU S T R A L I A

a

g

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

t es

South China Sea

rli n

l

Va

ft Ri

Gr

eat

Mauritius Réunion

rg

idge

anticR

D

e ra k

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

O

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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nel Peninsula

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an

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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

Iqaluit (Frobisher Bay)

Amadjuak Lake

de

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

H u d s o n B a y

Arviat

Churchill

Belcher Islands

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Southern Indian Lake Lynn Lake

Akimiski Island

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Reindeer Lake Wollaston Lake

Buffalo Narrows

Mansel Island

Whale Cove

Lake Athabasca

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Thompson

Grizzly bear

SASKATCHEWAN MAN ITOBA Flin Flon wan he

The Pas

tc

S ask

a

Lake Winnipeg

ROCKY MOUNTAINS

an

Prince Albert

Saskatoon Kindersley

Lake Qu ' Appelle Manitoba

Yorkton

Regina Medicine Hat

Brandon Weyburn

Estevan

S T A T E S I

5

Baker Lake

Fort Smith

Sask atc he w

4

Grain elevators dominate the skyline of the prairies

Coral Harbour

Garry Lake

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Hu d s o n S t r a i t

Southampton Island

Rankin Inlet

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Repulse Bay

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Reliance Lutselk’e (Snowdrift)

Isl

Nettilling Lake

Kugaaruk (Pelly Bay)

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CENTRAL STATES

Igloolik

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Boothia

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King William Island Gjoa Haven

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Baff

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Cambridge Bay (Ikaluktutiak)

Bu

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M c Cl

ount Visc lville (Qausuittuq) Somerset Me und Island So Prince of Wales Island

Victoria Island

P

400

0 miles

Melville Island

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Winnipeg

Melita

O F

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

Charles Island

Ivujivik

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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Islands

James Bay Wi nis

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Canadians have a high life expectancy—the average person lives to be 80 years old.

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Lac Seul

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Fort Albany

y an

Armstrong

Rivière

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oo

Dryden

Lake of the Woods

Lake Nipigon

Longlac

Atikokan

Hearst

Nipigon Marathon

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

North Bay

ICE HOCKEY

Lake Huron

Gatineau Hull

OTTAWA

Midland

Peterborough

Brampton Kitchener Hamilton Sarnia London Windsor Leamington

CN Tower

Pembroke

Ge o B

Manitoulin Island

ia n rg y a

8

Réservoir Gouin

Amos

Timmins

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

Cochrane

Foleyet

Wawa

r e E k a L

ie

Kingston

Oshawa Lake

Toronto Ontario St. Catharines Niagara Falls

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Kenora

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Attawapiskat

Moosonee

Fort Frances

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Akimiski Island

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Attawapiskat

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Lac Minto

H u d s o n Fort Severn B a y Belcher Peawanuk

Sandy Lake

5

Inukjuak (Port Harrison)

se

4

MAPLE SYRUP

Al b

3

Ungava Peninsula

Sev ern

2

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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ATLANTIC PROVINCES

Strai

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Akpatok Island

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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.

Resolution Island

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Ung a v a Ba y ill eu xF u Kuujjuaq ea

FISHERIES à ière Riv

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Hopedale Makkovik

b r a d o r

Smallwood Reservoir C h u r c h i ll

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Réservoir Manicouagan

Lac Mistassini Chibougamau

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La

Chicoutimi Jonquière

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Péninsule de Matane Gaspé

Rimouski

Bathurst

Rivière-du-Loup Edmundston

La Tuque

Charlesbourg

NEW BRUNSWICK

St.-Georges

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Gander Grand Falls

Newfoundland

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St. John’s

Cape Race

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

it

6

Glace Bay Sydney

Cape Breton Island

NOVA SCOTIA Dartmouth

7

Sable Island

Halifax

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200 100

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(to France)

Liverpool

TI ATLAN 100

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New Glasgow Truro

Yarmouth

0 km

bot

Amherst

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Fredericton

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Channel-Port aux Basques

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Oromocto

Saint John

Drummondville

Montréal

Îles de la Madeleìne

Moncton

Québec

Trois-Rivières

Gulf of St. Lawrence

N

St. Anthony

Corner Brook

Sept-Îles Gaspé

St.-Jean

Laval

Île d’Anticosti

Baie-Comeau

LLac

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br Se ad a o D

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Gagnon

L A B

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French signs in Québec city

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Réservoir de Caniapiscau

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Cartwright

N E W Lake Melville

Schefferville

3

Cape Harrison

Str ai t o f Be lle I sl e

oa

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C an i a

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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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U.S.A.: Northeast

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Appalachian Mountains

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Dunkirk

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

Wilcox

ny he r leg ve Al Ri

Lock Haven

Du Bois

Milford

State College

Indiana Altoona

Pittsburgh

Washington

Bedford

Uniontown 8

Cumberland Oakland

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Allentown

Reading

Harrisburg

Aberdeen Towson

Baltimore

Dover

Columbia

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Cherry Hill Vineland

Annapolis

DELAWARE

WASHINGTON, D.C. Cambridge

MARYLAND

9

NEW

Lancaster Wilmington

Hagerstown

VIRGINIA

Trenton

Philadelphia

Carlisle York

p

a

WEST VIRGINIA

n s Stroudsberg i a nt

Milton

Butler

Aliquippa

Catskill Mountains

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

Mercer

OHIO

Oneonta

Binghamton

u

Ocean City

Salisbury

Chesapeake Bay

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Y O R K

Ithaca

ny ea

Warren

Capitol building, the seat of government

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Utica

N E W

Dansville

Hamburg

Jamestown

p AMoh

Syracuse

Avon

Buffalo

e ri

Watertown Boonville

Oswego

Newark

Lockport

Niagara Falls

a

ck da ns n i iro Ad unt a Mo

Rochester

Niagara Falls

e nc re Ogdensburg w

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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Erie

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CENTRE OF GOVERNMENT 6

New York City

n

4

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

3

Lake Ontario

la ch ia

2

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

St .L

The northeastern united states is a heavily populated

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Presque Isle

B RU N

Moosehead Lake

Jackman

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Milo

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Pawtucket Providence Windsor New Bedford Hartford Warwick Martha's Vineyard

RHODE ISLAND Groton

CONNECTICUT Waterbury

T

Yonkers

New York

Long Island

AT

Newark Middletown 0 km 0 miles

JERSEY

Nantucket Island

Nantucket

New Haven Bridgeport Stamford Paterson

HIGHER EDUCATION

IC

Kingston Bristol

Orleans

50

LA

100

5

OCE

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

e

THANKSGIVING

Manchester Nashua

Greenfield

Pittsfield

iv er

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)

3

AN

Gr

een

Glens Falls

Mou

Rutland

Bar Harbor

Augusta

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Connecticut River

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c

nta in

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Millbridge

lf

a

Montpelier

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Berlin

1

2

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Burlington

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VERMONT

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.

Machias

Searsport

Waterville

P

Calais

Lincoln

Bangor

Newport Plattsburgh

M A I N E

Houlton

Penob scot Riv er

i n

t a

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.

SWICK

s

Mars Hill

Mount Katahdin 5266ft (1605m)

O

MAINE

Madawaska

CRANBERRIES

N

N

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.

6

Tourists can take an elevator to the top of the Statue of Liberty

7

150

50

100

150

8

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

Cincinnati

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Tombigbee Riv

Mississ ipp iR iv

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Sab in

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OKLAHO

T E X A S B

Crestview

Bainbridge Lake Seminole

Pensacola Beach

Tallahassee

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

D

Albany

Fort Walton Biloxi

Chandeleur Islands

MUSICAL ORIGINS

A

Al

Troy Andalusia Ozark Brewton Dothan

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

10

Cotton pod, or boll

Prichard

Gulfport

Metairie

Morgan City

Rome

Cullman

A L A B A M A

Baton Rouge Lafayette

Scottsboro

Alexander City

er

Bogalusa Opelousas

New Iberia

9

Riv

De Ridder

Dalton

Birmingham

Tuscaloosa

MISSISSIPPI

Pe a r l

r ive dR Re

Alexandria

Cleveland

Chattanooga Huntsville

Gadsden Anniston

Columbus

Greenville

LOUISIANA

Lake Charles

8

Greenwood

r

Bossier City

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

Tupelo

Clarksdale

Bastrop

Shreveport

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Little Rock

Benton h ita Ouac

5

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

Forrest City Ark

COTTON CROPS 4

North

Ouachita Little Rock Mountains

Mis sis sip pi

MA

be

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3

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Gr

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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Winchester

Clarksburg

VIRGINIA

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Charleston

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Bluefield

Pikeville

Lynchburg

Roanoke

Pulaski

London

Roa n

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Knoxville

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Salem

Asheville

Greenville

Charlotte

Goldsboro New Bern

Fayetteville

SOUTH CAROLINA

Gainesville Greenwood

Sa

v

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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Tifton Waycross

Brunswick

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.

A

Savannah Hinesville

Kumba roller coaster, the fastest in Florida, in Busch Gardens, Tampa

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR

N

Hilton Head Island

Vidalia Alta ma ha

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Cordele

Charleston

ive

Statesboro Dublin

North Charleston

R nah

Milledgeville

Long Bay Georgetown

an

Macon

Myrtle Beach

Lake Marion

Aiken Orangeburg

Augusta

GEORGIA

Cape Fear

Columbia

3

TOURISM

Onslow Bay

C

Clark Hill Lake

Athens

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

li m Pa oun S

Wilmington

Florence

KENTUCKY DERBY

Havelock

Laurinburg Jacksonville

Rock Hill Union

Elizabeth City

Rocky Mount Raleigh Greenville

NORTH CAROLINA

Gastonia Spartanburg

Norfolk Virginia Beach

ok e

Durham

High Point Cary

Mount Mitchell 6683ft (2037m)

Petersburg

r ve Ri

Danville Middlesboro Kingsport a Bristol i Greensboro Greeneville Winston

Cape Charles

Newport News Portsmouth

2

Chesapeake Bay

Richmond

James R iver

u

Beckley

MARYLAND

Fredericksburg P Staunton CharlottesvilleR iv a c m r oto e

Ohio River Saint Albans

Dale City

Harrisonburg

Huntington

c d o

Portsmouth

Arlington

ta in s

OHIO

WASHINGTON D.C.

Spruce Knob 4862ft (1482m)

WEST VIRGINIA

O

Parkersburg

1

Jacksonville

6

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

Naples

Lake Okeechobee

glad

Port Charlotte Charlotte Harbor Fort Myers

Miami Beach

Flor

s

Fl

Key Largo

Ke ida J

y

of

Florida Bay Key West

or

id

a

Th

Miami

Cape Sable

I

7

Martin Luther King, Jr., speaking at the final rally of the March Against Fear, Mississippi, 1966

Cape Canaveral

St

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t ai

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K

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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U.S.A.: Midwest The American Midwest is dominated by the Great

Minot

M O N T A N A i ss eM

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Denison Harlan Columbus Fremont r e p Riv

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Lincoln

C O L O R A D O

Hastings

McCook Colby

Goodland

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.

K

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Great Bend Garden City Hutchinson Dodge City

Pratt

Concordia

Ka n

S

McPherson

Wichita Wellington

Liberal

Bellevue

Creston Clarinda Lamoni

Maryville

Saint Joseph Excelsior Springs

Atchison

A

City

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

Joplin

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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Indianola

Nebraska City Beatrice

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Manhattan Kansas Junction City Rive r Salina sas

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Omaha

Papillion York

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Des Moines

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Lexington Kearney

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Bloomington Burnsville

Sioux Falls

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Minneapolis

New Northfield Ulm Faribault Brookings Mankato Madison Owatonna Worthington Fairmont

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Coon Rapids

Montevideo

Watertown

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MINNESOTA

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M A N I T O B A

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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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Devils Lake

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BUFFALO ON THE PLAINS

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EWAN

Williston

Belfield

W Y O M I N G

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Red Riv e r

2

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.

SASKATCH

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RURAL U.S.

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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WISCONSIN

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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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NIA

PENNSYLVA

5

INDIANA

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Delaware Wheeling Cambridge

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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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Galesburg Burlington Peoria Fort Madison Lafayette Bloomington Pekin Macomb

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K Y 0 km 0 miles

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.

Huntington

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200 100

200

8

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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ARKANSAS

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NORTH AMERICA E

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f to

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Auburn

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Des Riv c h utes er

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Carson City

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Ruby

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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

Dea

Visalia Hanford -282ft Porterville (-86m) Delano Ridgecrest

th le

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Va

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Atascadero San Luis Obispo

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Lake

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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

l r a n t C e

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Sacramento V a l l e

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Susanville Chico

Winnemucca

k ac

Hu

a

Ukiah

Independence Mountains

De

R

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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

oja

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

8

o

Col Rivorad er

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

9

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Caldwell

Harney Basin

Klamath Mountains

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Summer Upper Lake Klamath Lake

San Francisco

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o

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.”

C

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O R E G O N Burns

a

Cape Blanco

Clearwater Mountains

La Grande

Bend

Springfield

Lewiston

Walla Walla Hermiston

n D River ay

Riv er

Moscow

Pasco

The Dalles Pendleton

Woodburn

Roseburg Grants Pass

S a in t Joe

R

Col u mbia R iver

Lebanon

Coos Bay

Richland Kennewick

R

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

Pullman

Yakima

Jo h

Albany Corvallis

Lake Pend Oreille

W A S H I N G T O N

Gresham

Salem

Libby

Sandpoint

Wenatchee Ellensburg

Tacoma

Portland

Newberg McMinnville

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Bellevue

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Everett

Seattle n

Centralia

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COLUMBIA r lumbi a

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Olympia Aberdeen

NORTHERN FORESTS

C

ISH

Bellingham

Bremerton

Eureka

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BRIT

ia

Olympic Mountains

5

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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Cloud Peak 13,166ft (4013m)

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Great Salt Lake

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Salt Lake

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Green River

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Cheyenne

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Steamboat Fort Collins Springs Greeley Sterling Loveland Fort Morgan Longmont Brighton Boulder Broomfield Denver

Aurora

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Richfield

C O L O R A D O Pikes Peak

Moab

Colorado Springs Pueblo

Gunnison 14,108ft (4300m)

Montrose

Canon City

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.

6

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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A R I Z O N A

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Mount Elbert 14,432ft (4399m)

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Cedar City

Mount Ellen 11,522ft (3512m)

Ri ve r

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Grand Junction

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S K A N S A

Sandy City Orem Provo

Wheatland

NEBRASKA

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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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Shelby Havre

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OKLAHOMA

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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.

8

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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U.S.A.: Southwest

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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Sa

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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Elephant Butte Reservoir Alamogordo

Las Cruces Willcox Sierra Vista Nogales

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Rio G ran d

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Scottsdale

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M o u n t a in s

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Saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert

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Albuquerque

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Signal Peak 4879ft (1487m)

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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.

4

Hualapai Peak 8419ft (2566m)

CALI

DESERT LIFE

Benson Bisbee Douglas

200

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.

7

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.

Deming

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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

Brownfield

Dallas

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Houston Rosenberg

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Robstown Alice

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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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Edinburg Mission

McAllen

L

5

6

7

Gulf of

Victoria

Mexico

Port Lavaca Port O’Connor

R

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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

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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

i

Killeen

Lake Buchanan Round Rock Lake Travis

Kerrville

at

S

Waco

Tyler

Marshall

A

Pl

Amistad Reservoir

Emory Peak 7825ft (2385m)

Sulphur Springs

ISIAN

ds

Atlanta

Greenville

Arlington

4

Texarkana

er Riv

ar

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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Lake Texoma

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Copperas Cove

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Fort Davis

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Plano Garland Lake Tawakoni

Brownwood

McCamey Riv e r cos Pe

S

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Fort Worth

T

Coleman

Ballinger

San Angelo

Fort Stockton

A

Stephenville

Pecos

Van Horn

L

Wichita Gainesville Falls Denton

Abilene

Colorado City

Midland

Monahans

K

yR nit Tri

Big Spring

Odessa

McAlester

NASA

LOU

Lamesa Seminole Sweetwater

Andrews

Guadalupe Peak 8750ft (2667m)

r

Snyder

Hobbs

Norman

Mineral Wells

Artesia

Carlsbad

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Lubbock

Levelland

Warner Eufaula Lake

Shawnee

Duncan Ardmore Burkburnett

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Littlefield

Roswell

Lawton i

Tulia

O

Red R

Muleshoe

O

El Reno Moore

3

Broken Arrow Tahlequah Muskogee

Ada Canyon

Clovis

C

Tulsa

Sapulpa

Oklahoma City

Chickasha

Amarillo

Vinita

Claremore

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Okmulgee

The Village Clinton

Hereford

I

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Cr i st o M

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Tucumcari

Stillwater

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Bartlesville

Sand Springs

Perryton

Clayton

ns

Enid

Woodward

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Guymon

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Boise City

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Miami

Ponca City

Alva

Beaver Riv er

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Sabine R i

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M IS S O U R

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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.

8

Padre Island Harlingen San Benito

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Brownsville M

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NORTH AMERICA C

D

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Mexico

G

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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

B

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

ia

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o

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Culiacán

La Paz

Tropic of Cancer

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Guamúchil

r

Gómez Palacio

O

li

ta igan la G

Guasave

Bahía de La Paz

Isla Santa Margarita

IC

Los Mochis

Hidalgo del Parral

re

rra Sie

Loreto

Santa Barbara

ad

o

a

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San Blas

Jiménez

San Francisco del Oro

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i

lf

n

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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

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LIFE IN THE CITY

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P

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

C

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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MEXICO I

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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

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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

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J

Chichén-Itzá

Minatitlán

L

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

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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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Cari

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Tapachula Ciudad Hidalgo

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NORTH AMERICA B

C

D

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F

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

C

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.

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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

ce

David

ul

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

A

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

7

Istmo de Panamá

8

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Puerto Bagaces Viejo Cañas Quesada Heredia Alajuela

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oS

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Rí

Upala

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NORTH AMERICA B

C

D

E

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

A

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

8

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Ginger F

Banana

Chilli G

ge

J

6

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

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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

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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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PA NAM

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

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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

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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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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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Camaná

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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.

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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

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Tarija

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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

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AY

San José

San Matías

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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

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Magdalena

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Trinidad

Potosí

Uncía

Tupiza

Villa Uyuni Martin

Sabaya

Sajama 21,391ft Lago (6520m) Poopó

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Riberalta

Cochabamba Buena Vista Oruro Nevado

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LA PAZ

Copacabana

Lake Titicaca

Puno

Arequipa

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B Nevado Pupuya 19,088ft (5818m)

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Nevado Ampato 20,702ft (6310m)

Lomas

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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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Huancayo

Cerro de Pasco

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Pisco

Pucallpa Aguaytía

Huánuco

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LIMA

Callao

Huacho

Chiquián

Huaraz

Huarmey

Tarapoto

P E R U

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Río M a

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NORTHWEST SOUTH AMERICA

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SOUTH AMERICA D

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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.

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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.

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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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GUYANA

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The vibrant culture of brazil—with

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VENEZUELA

Brazil 2

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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.

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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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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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Tum u c - Hum ac M o u n tains

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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

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URUGUAY’S CAPITAL

Mix of Colonial Spanish, Italian, and Art Deco styles of architecture shows Montevideo’s rich history

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MONTEVIDEO

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URUGUAY

Río N

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Posadas

Artigas

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Mirim Lagoon

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Eldorado

Ciudad del Este

Encarnación

Pa

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Caazapá

BUENOS AIRES

Dolores

Mercedes

Paysandú

Salto

Trinidad

Concordia

Gualeguaychú Pergamino Junín

Goya

Santo Tomé Mercedes

Monte Caseros

Reconquista Vera

Santa Fe

Río Cuarto

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San Juan Pilar Bautista

Villarrica

Coronel Oviedo

Corrientes

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Laguna Mar Chiquita

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Villa Mercedes

San Luis

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Santiago del Estero

Villa María

Córdoba

San Rafael

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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

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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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Southern South America

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SOUTH AMERICA

Ri Río (

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Cerro Mellizo Sur 10,007ft (3050m)

Isla Wellington

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Cerro San Valentín 13,314ft na (4058m) Cochrane

Chile Chico

Coihaique

Puerto Aisén

PA

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Lago Musters

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(Cabo de Hornos)

Cape Horn

Beagle Channel

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Isla de los Estados

Strait of Magellan

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Gaucho herding cattle in the Pampas region

G

la

Pl a

Pla te ta)

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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

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Golfo San Matías

Río Ne gro

Bah

Viedma

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Bahía Blanca Choele Choel

San Antonio Oeste

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Lago Buenos Aires Perito Moreno

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Cipolletti

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Paso de Indios

Sarmiento

Punta Arenas

Puerto Natales

Cerro Paine 8760ft (2670m)

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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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Lago Nahuel Huapí

Zapala

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Esquel

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Santa Rosa

Trenque Lauquen

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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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Loncoche

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Chillán Concepción Rí oB ío Los Ángeles

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AT L A O

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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.

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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-

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Basin

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Chile

Peru

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OCEAN

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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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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.

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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

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Colombian Basin

Guatemala Basin

ill

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Caribbean Sea

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(to Denmark)

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(to Portugal)

Canary Islands

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(to U.K.)

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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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Rovaniemi

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Oulujärvi

Päijänne

Jyväskylä

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Tampere

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LAPLAND

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Saimaa

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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)

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Sattanen

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Sami man in traditional costume

Varangerhalvøya

Válljohka Karigasniemi

Tan

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North Cape

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Holmsund

Sundsvall

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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

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Sva

Bodø

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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

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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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SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT

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Karlskrona Lund Kristianstad Hanöbukten

Kalmar

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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

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(Göteborg)

æ

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Rømø

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Holstebro

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North Sea

OSLO

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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

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Sandnes

Stavanger

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Haugesund

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Irish horse and rider on a training run

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Ardee

Belfast

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ISLE OF MAN

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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

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Drogheda

Dundalk

Newry

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Sunderland

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Carlisle

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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

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Longford

Cavan

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Lough Neagh

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Mainland

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Stranorlar Donegal

Loch Lomond

Stranraer

Kintyre

Ben Nevis 4406ft (1343 m)

NO RTH ER N Strabane IR ELA ND

Londonderry

Islay

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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

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Isle of Mull

Tiree

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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

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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

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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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Isles of Scilly 50

W A LES

Cardiff

Port Talbot

Worcester

D

Watford

Ipswich

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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

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Cork

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Newbridge

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Dingle Bay

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L

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Barrow

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Lough Corrib

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THE BRITISH ISLES

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Castricum

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Den Helder

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(W

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THE HAGUE

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Vlagtwedde Borger Beilen

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Amstelveen Vaassen Baarn Hilversum Apeldoorn

Zeewolde

Enschede

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Steenwijk

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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

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AMSTERDAM

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F

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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

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The Low Countries

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Mouscron

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LUXEMBOURG Aubange Pétange Virton Dudelange Esch-sur-Alzette

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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

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Ciney

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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

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Jemappes Erquelinnes Binche Charleroi Thuin Gerpinnes Walcourt Dinant

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(BRUSSEL/ BRUXELLES)

BRUSSELS

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Melle Mechelen

Gavere

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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

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B

Flags of the member states of the European Union

Tholen

Oosterhout Roosendaal

Terneuzen Axel Assenede Beveren Bruges (Brugge)

Tournai

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Roeselare

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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

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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

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Chaumont Langres

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Côte d'Or

un dy) (Burgrgogne Bourges Bo u Vierzon

Châteauroux

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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

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Lorient Hennebont Vannes Auray

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St.-Malo

St.-Lô

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B r i t t a n y St.-Brieuc (Bretagne)

Landerneau

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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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TOUR DE FRANCE

u s Perpignan sil lon

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Martigues

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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

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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

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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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Is l e

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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

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Angoulême Charente

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Cognac

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11

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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

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Wiesbaden Mainz

M os

Gotha

Bad Hersfeld Marburg an der Lahn Hünfeld

efergeb Schi

(Köln)

Cologne Siegen

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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

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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

7

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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

S

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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Eiger 13,025ft (3970m)

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Innsbruck

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Brenner Pass

Leoben

Kranj

Koper

Nova Gorica

Wolfsberg

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

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The opera ball in Vienna

H

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Murska Sobota Ptuj

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SLOVENIA

Sava

Celje Trbovlje

Loibl Pass Velenje 4485ft (1367m)

Klagenfurt

LJUBLJANA

Tolmin

Jesenice

(WIEN)

VIENNA

Maribor

Graz

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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

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Hollabrunn

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Perchtoldsdorf Bad Vöslau Traiskirchen Eisenstadt Neusiedler See Wiener Neustadt

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Salzburg

Wels

Rosenheim

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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

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Fo

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Munich

Zugspitze 9718ft (2962m)

LIECHTENSTEIN VADUZ o l T i r Klosters

Sankt Gallen

Simplon Pass Bellinzona 6578ft Locarno (2005m)

A

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Schwyz

Luzern

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Zürichsee

Matterhorn Lake 14,692ft Great Saint (4478m) Maggiore Bernard Pass SLOVENIA 8100ft (2469m) After centuries

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Kempten Konstanz Friedrichshafen Füssen a v a r i a n A l p s B Winterthur

Mindelheim Memmingen Kaufbeuren

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Ingolstadt

Donauwörth

Fr

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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

0 miles

0 km

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

Saarbrücken

Neunkirchen

Erlangen Fürth Mannheim Heidelberg Nuremberg

Worms Ludwigshafen

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SWISS WATCHES

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GERMANY AND THE ALPINE STATES

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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

2

C

The boot-shaped country of Italy stretches from the

Italy

E

FRANC

SLO

eve re

B

8

7

6

5

4

2

1

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

L s en App

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14

13

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Iîawa

Ostróda

Brodnica

Kètrzyn

Bartoszyce

Szczytno Nidzica

Olsztyn

Goîdap

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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

D

Góra Skierniewice Grójec Kalwaria Îód¶

N

a

Puîawy

Ryki

Îuków Garwolin

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

Sîubice

)

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

i

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

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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

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s

Snina Vranov nad Topl’ou Michalovce

Pre#ov

Sátoraljaújhely

Roªõava

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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

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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

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Kolín

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16

15

14

13

12

10

9

CENTRAL EUROPE

63

Pula

Rovinj

Poreâ

Is

a tr

Opatija

Lo#inj

A Zadar

Pag

Senj

it

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r Dugi Otok

Cres

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va

V

Sa

O

EN

Petrinja Glina

D

i

av

Sisak

a

Kutina

Slatina

Virovitica

uk Pa p

Bjelovar

Koprivnica

Dr av

Sombor

Beli Manastir

Kanjiªa

Vojvodina

Baâka Topola

Ada

Senta

Y H U N G A R Subotica

Family-run allotments

G

Knin

Troglav 6276ft (1913m)

Kljuâ

a

a

a l

r

t i

Split

Sinj

Doboj

Travnik

Zenica

Zavidoviái

c

Srebrenica Rogatica

SARAJEVO

Visoko

va

Zemun

Vr#ac

N

SERBIA

Gornji Milanovac Kragujevac Uªice Jagodina Poªega Âaâak

Bor

Magazine with Cyrillic script

Negotin

I A

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.

a) un D

m

c

Konjic

FEDERACIJA BOSNA I HERCEGOVINA

Tuzla

‹abac

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

F

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

Ko

b

a

8

7

6

5

Janica Kostelic

as

rb

4

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

D

s

Ve l e

San

Bo

SL

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,

S

a

3

E

a

O A

rin

2

D

Southeast Europe

C

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av

Tisza

Kv ar

Dr

R M

D

B

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

EUROPE

i

a

Cetinje

Vlorë Lu

mi

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F

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

‹tip

Brega

Koâani

eka

G

0 miles

0 km

Gevgelija

Kavadarci

50

H

a

100

I

The remains of an impressive temple still stands in Apollonia, Albania.

50

100

Strumica

Radovi#

l

ni

Surdulica

Kumanovo

Prilep

C E E E

Lake Prespa

Bitola

Korçë

Veles

Pirot

ou l nt ka n ai ns

Vlasotince

MACEDONIA

Kiâevo

Gostivar

Struga Ohrid

Debar

i i Pogradec D evollit

i i V jo O s u së m i t

Sarandë

Gjirokastër

Corfu (Kérkyra)

m

Lake Ohrid

Elbasan

ALBANIA

Berat

Tepelenë

Fier

(TIRANË)

TIRANA ubinit Lu mi i Shk

Kuçovë

Lushnjë

Kavajë

Durrës

Burrel

Peshkopi

SKOPJE

Tetovo

Ni#

Bujanovac

Vranje

PRISTINA

Vushtrri

KOSOVO

Fushë Kosovë

Gjakovë (disputed) Rahovec Ferizaj Gjilan Prizren Pre#evo

Kukës

i i Drini t um

Pejë

Leskovac

Prokuplje

Knjaªevac

Zajeâar

Aleksinac

Paraáin

Kru#evac

Áuprija

Mitrovicë Podujevë

Ãeravica 8720ft (2658m)

Berane

Bajram Curri

Lezhë

Kraljevo

Sjenica Novi Pazar

Prijepolje

North Albanian Alps

Krujë

Laç

Shkodër

Bar

Lake Scutari

nto

D

An Albanian family

Eel

Bijelo Polje

Pljevlja

Nik#iá

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.

Drin a

MONTENEGRO

a

Priboj

i

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Dubrovnik

s

tv

Goraªde

L

um

14

Lake Prespa

p

Metkoviá

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Foâa

Lu

LIFE IN ALBANIA

Mljet

Ploâe

Mostar

A

dar

13

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.

i ri n ck D Bla

12

Korâula

Hvar

DUBROVNIK

Vis

Makarska Iba r

11

9

a k o

Var

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e oni na M Juª

a r av

A

G

S re

M

L

K opa a

RI A BULG

Crna R

Ne

B

c

t Bra â

16

15

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9

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

lk

Iskûr

Giannitsá Alexándreia

Aridaía

Polÿkastro

CED

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Thásos

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Didymóteicho

Orestiáda

Kalamariá

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Sea

E

Y

Malko Tûrnovo

I

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

i ts a

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

Ruse

e nub Tutrakan Da v) n u a (D Glavinista

Veliko Tûrnovo iya mch L u d a Ka Gabrovo

ains

Troyan

H

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

a i n n v R a Pavlikeni Lovech Sevlievo

Mount

Mikre

Telish Lukovit Roman

Pleven

u n a v s k a

Gulyantsi

ROMANIA Miziya

an Slivnitsa Novi Iskûr

(SOFIYA) Izvor

Trûn

Dragoman

Ba

S

Amÿntaio

Flórina

Lake Prespa

MA

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

Danube

Boychinovtsi D Vinishte Montana Borovan Vratsa Berkovitsa

Belogradchik

Dimovo

Vidin

Bregovo

h

8

7

6

5

4

3

F

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,

BIA SER

2

E

Bulgaria and Greece

D

n dz h a Tu

C

K

B

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TUR

M

8

6

5

4

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1

ds an l s I á)

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Areópoli

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50

d

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100

it

Chíos

d e s (Kykládes Cycla

Antípsara

C

D

la

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Kíssamos

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Pánormos

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Amorgós

tí Mÿrtos

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Siteía Ágios Nikólaos

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Crete (Kríti)

(Kr

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)

Náxos

Náxos

Agía

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Kálymnos

Léros Marína

Kásos

Kárpathos

Kárpathos

Kattavía

(Ródos)

Rhodes

Chálki

Nísyros Tílos

Kos

ATHENS

Líndos

Rhodes (Ródos)

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

I

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.

Saría

Akrotírio Floúda o d e ká ni sa Astypálaia ) Thíra Anáfi Santorini Sÿrna

Chóra

Kástro

Paroikiá

Páros

Folégandros

Pláka

g o s Mílos

Antikÿthira

Potamós

Kÿthira

Karavás

Pe

Sífnos

Sérifos

i Irákleio r a Kántanos Spíli n e Chóra Sfakíon TympákiZarós an Gávdos Sea 100

Kÿthira

o

Ÿdra

Daimoniá Neápoli

Gÿtheio

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

Leonídio Spárti Kalámata Geráki

Geroliménas

EARTHQUAKES

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0 km

Pÿlos

Messíni

Kyparissía

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A

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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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CORINTH CANAL

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Kálamos of Corinth Vília Marathónas Argostóli Mándra Káto Achaïa Kárystos Corinth Xylókastro ATHENS Lechainá Ándros Corinth Canal (ATHÍNA) Piraeus Gastoúni (Kórinthos) Sámos Sámos Ándros (Peiraías) Lámpeia Keratéa Neméa Aígina Ikaría Kerí Lávrio Tínos Árgos Tzia Thérma Palaiá Epídavros Ioulís Zákynthos Pÿrgos Tínos Alf Trípoli Agathónisi Náfplio ei Póros Sÿros Mÿkonos Zacháro Arkoí Pátmos Ermoúpoli Ermióni Kÿthnos Kÿthnos Póros

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Ch Arnaía Véroia Samothráki alkidikí Ierissós Kastaneá Epanomí Samothráki Karyés Kateríni Kozáni Velvéntos Thermaic Néa Moudanía Akrotírio Pínes Ólympos Litóchoro Sárti

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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

BA

Neápoli

Kastoría s ona km iá l A

s S S po r p orá a d e s d es)

9

AL

A NI

16

15

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13

12

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BULGARIA AND GREECE

67

EUROPE B

D

E

F

G

H

Ukraine, Moldova, & Romania

T

N D

Styr

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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Khodoriv

SL OV AK IA

Boryslav CITY LIFE

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Alba Iulia Media∞ Deva Lugoj Hunedoara Sibiu

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Pa∞cani Ungheni

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Pite∞ti

Ploie∞ti

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Buftea

Alexandria

Olteniπa Zimnicea

The word Transylvania means “land beyond the forests.”

9

68

A

B

C

D

Bolhrad Ozero Yalpuh Reni Kiliya Mâcin

Hâr∞ova

m iπa

(BUCUREfiTI)

Ciadîr-Lunga Artsyz

Cahul

Izmayil Tulcea

Babadag

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BUCHAREST

Caracal

Ro∞iori de Vede Corabia

nâr ea)

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Sinaia

Slatina

Bâile∞ti

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Fete∞ti Medgidia

Câlâra∞i

Constanπa

Techirghiol

Giurgiu

Eforie Sud Mangalia

A B U L G A R I 8

Dubâsari

Basarabeasca

Bârlad Sfântu Gheorghe

Fâgâra∞

Wallachia

Craiova Calafat

Kotovs’k

Câlâra∞i

Ia∞i

Târgu Ocna

Ol

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.

Drobeta-Turnu Severin

nsy

Râmnicu Vâlcea

Motru

Ji u

DRACULA’S CASTLE

Balta

Rîbniπa

Secuiesc

Vârful Moldoveanu 8346ft (2544m)

Câmpulung

Târgu Jiu Or∞ova

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i a s t r n i n s r a

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MOLDOVA

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Roman CHIfiINÂU Piatra-Neamπ Târgu Mure∞ Bacâu Hînce∞ti Tighina Cristuru Tiraspol Vaslui Miercurea-Ciuc

T r a n s y l v a n i a

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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.

Bistriπa

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Lypovets’

Soroca

Dorohoi

Fâlticeni

ou

Ale∞d

Salonta Beiu∞

R Haysyn

’ka

Dn i es

Suceava

M

Oradea

Nâsâud

Zalâu

il’s

Mohyliv-Podil’s’kyy

Râdâuπi

an

fiimleu Silvaniei

Bor∞a

hi

U

Baia Mare

Carei Marghita

Pod

Darabani

at

R

Y

Satu Mare

K

Zhmerynka

Kam’’yanets’Podil’s’kyy

Nadvirna

Kozyatyn

Vinnytsya

Ivano-Frankivs’k

Uzhhorod

U

Chortkiv

Mukacheve

FOLK CUSTOMS

7

Kalush Dolyna

rp

5

Stryy

Kolomyya Berehove Chernivtsi Khust C Vynohradiv a Hora Hoverla Negre∞ti-Oa∞ 6762ft (2061m)

A

4

Ternopil’ Khmel’nyts’kyy

T

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

3

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

F

G

H

UKRAINE, MOLDOVA, AND ROMANIA I

J

K

L

M

N

O

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.

Desna

Horodnya

P

1

Shostka

Shchors

Romny

w la

Hrebinka Lubny

Horodyshche

nn de P iv

y

B l a c k

Kreminna

Novomoskovs’k P’’yatykhatky

Odesa Illichivs’k

Pokrovs’ke

Inhulets’ Ordzhonikidze

Nikopol’

Zaporizhzhya

Donets’k

Orikhiv Volnovakha Marhanets’ Polohy Dniprorudne Tokmak

B l a c k

Yevpatoriya

Crimea

Krasnodon

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PEOPLE OF ROMANIA

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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

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VACATIONS BY THE SEA

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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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Belarus used to be known as Belorussia, a name that means “White Russia.”

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LITHUANIA

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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

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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.

100

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.

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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

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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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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

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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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Sleeping Beauty is performed here by dancers from the Kirov Ballet.

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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

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Orenburg

Sibay

Baymak

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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.”

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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

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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

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Industrial smog casts a haze over Moscow.

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EUROPEAN RUSSIA

a

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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

Yeni sey

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

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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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Meerut

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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

9

OCEAN K

M

N

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ASIA B

C

D

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F

G

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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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Xigazê

Lhazê

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Har S han

Qamdo Salw

nqêntanglha Shan Maizhokunggar

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

N YA

BHUTAN

sARUNÁCHAL PRADESH

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Mount Everest 29,035ft (8850m)

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(Qi ngzang Gaoy uan)

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Qilian

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Pl a t e a u o f Ti b e t

Zanda

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Hami

DEMCHOK/DÊMQOG

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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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Rutog

(administered by China, claimed by India)

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m yê ha A’n S

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IND

CHINESE WRITING

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AKSAI CHIN (administered by China, claimed by India)

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M O N

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Kunlun

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Laojunmiao

Qira

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AKSAI CHIN

I

ruk

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ko ra ng Ka Ra A T

PA

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Tarim Basin

ng

Aj Bogd Uul 12,474ft (3802m)

Turpan Pendi

Bosten Hu

Ku

akla Makan

(claimed by India)

K2 28,251ft (8611m)

n

XINJIANG

Shache

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In traditional Mongolian khoomi singing, men are able to sing several notes at once.

u

Jimsar

Tomür Feng 7443m

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Yengisar

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WESTERN CHINA AND MONGOLIA K

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Sea of Japan (East Sea)

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Chifeng

Great

3

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

AN

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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.

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NEW -YEAR CELEBRATIONS

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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.

Baoji

GANSU

AI

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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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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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Dezhou

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Handan

Hamhûng

Chôngju

(North and South Korea have been divided by a ceasefire agreement since 1953)

Weifang

Jinan

Sinûiju

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East Korea Bay

3

Ch’unch’ôn

SEOUL (SÔUL)

Taejôn

SOUTH KOREA

Taegu Ulsan

Chônju

Pusan

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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Yan’an

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Yuci

Cangzhou Binzhou

Pingdingshan Suzhou

JIANGSU

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Guangzhou Zhaoqing Jiangmen Yulin Macao

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Hong Kong (Xianggang)

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Hexian

Hualien

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

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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

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Gorges Reservoir

Cheju-do

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Nanyang Huainan Xiangfang Nanjing Hefei Xinyang Three

2

Kimch’aek

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

L

M

N

9

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91

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

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

E

0 miles

0 km 100

Japanese Temple

100

200

Wakkanai

Noboribetsu

Gojóme

Miyako

Fudi

Morioka

Iwate

Kuji

Hachinohe

Shinjó

Furukawa

Sendai

Sakata Tsuruoka Atsumi

Sen

d a i-wan

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)

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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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Nakatsugawa

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Hitoyoshi

Tokushima

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Sóma Haramachi

Kóriyama

JAPAN

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Biwa-ko Nagoya

Wadayama Kyóto

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Niihama Matsuyama

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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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(Na u I n s ei- s l sh o

10

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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Ko r

9

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h C t a s ea S

Amam i-g u

Bu

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T

sh

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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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ot

da

Izu

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93

16

15

14

13

12

11

10

9

i

IA

Chi nd w

LAD ESH

n

Thandwe

Thayetmyo

(Yangon)

Hpa-an

Thaton

Kyaikto Kayan

u

E

Phayao

Tak

g M e ko n

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

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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

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

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

g

Merg ui Archi

go pela

on

Myaungmya

ng eko

ek

R a n g e S

Sên

ila u

N le

A M

n

16

15

14

13

12

11

10

9

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

s a

Pulau Belitung

s

B o r n e o n Kalimanta

r

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

E

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

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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

)

DILI

Flores

0 km

(M

Obome

T nd elu k era w as ih Maniwori

u

Pulau or ser Sunda ara) A l Wetar n ua (Nusa Tengg K epula

Kupang

rau uk Be Tel

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

uc

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

102

Vanuatu tribespeople dancing at a religious ceremony A

B

C

D

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

P

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

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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

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Kanton Birnie Island

I

Nikunau Tamana Arorae

n

e

u

r

Beru

a

Nonouti

4

Equator

O

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9

103

AUSTRALASIA AND OCEANIA B

C

D

E

F

H

Australia

Melville Island

A huge, generally flat country, Australia

FLYING DOCTOR

N

ulf G

Hamersley

B

ar

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lee

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Ei gh

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M

Ri

Gr

Fitzroy Crossing y Ri

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Percival Lakes

Marble Bar

Top Springs Roadhouse

Halls Creek T a n a m i

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Desert

San

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ge

W E S T E R N

Lake Mackay

Lake Disappointment

ge

G i b s o n ver Ri

Robinson

Mu rch

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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

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Lake Cowan

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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

G

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s

AUSTRALIA I

J

K

M

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

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Burketown

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Tennant Creek

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F l in

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Gr eg or y

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Mount Isa

Cloncurry

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R T H E R N

Cairns

Hinchinbrook Island

Hughenden

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Winton

I

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Simpson

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Barcaldine

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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

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Mount Kosciuszko 7310ft Albury (2228m) Shepparton

King Island

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Orange

Deniliquin

Keith

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id

Dubbo

River Parkes hlan Lac

Adelaide

Grafton

Coffs Harbour Port Macquarie D Taree Muswellbrook

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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

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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

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Bollon

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

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Investigator Stra

St. George

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Elizabeth

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Broken Hill

Peterborough Eyre Port Pirie Crystal Brook f Peninsula Gul M u rray River

Port Lincoln

Fraser Island

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Port Augusta Whyalla

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Lake Callabonna Lake Frome

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Lake Torrens

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Lake Gairdner

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AUS TR AL I A

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Lake Blanche

Marree

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Darling

Lake Eyre South

Ceduna

Gladstone

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Lake Eyre North -52ft (-16m)

Tarcoola

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Gayndah Murgon Roma Miles

Mitchell

Tropic of

Curtis Island Capricorn

Biloela Augathella

Lake Everard

Rockhampton

Bundaberg

Desert

Coober Pedy

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Windorah

S O U T H

Maryborough Yeppon

Clermont

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Springsure

Coo pe

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Longreach

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Q U EEN SL A ND

Alice Springs

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Mackay

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Whitsunday Group

Bloomsbury

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Charters Towers

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Townsville

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R I T O R Y

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Atherton Innisfail Tully

S l a r or e i

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Port Douglas

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Mornington Island

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Voting in government elections in Australia is compulsory. Citizens who fail to vote can be fined.

B

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Wellesley Islands

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Ba

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M

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Daly Waters

t

Gr

Sir Edward Pellew Group

Ran nell

Charlotte Bay

Groote Eylandt

Katherine

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Arn hem L an d

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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

J

Hobart

Maria Island

M

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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

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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

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Huntly Morrinsville

North Taranaki Bight Ohura Waitara

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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

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New Zealand

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South West Cape

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Alexandra

Cromwell

A

Ross

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Arthur’s Pass 3018ft (920m)

C

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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

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Lake Hawea

Invercargill

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Stewart Island

t

Muttonbird Islands

Halfmoon Bay

Fov

Riverton

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16

e

Codfish Island

Ta W a e w a

aiau W

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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

14

13

12

11

S

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

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L i vi n g s to n e M ts . Eyre M ts.

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9

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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

16

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PACIFIC OCEAN D

E

G

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

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Se

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Taiwan

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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

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Amu

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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

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a s t

n

ESIA

(to U.S.)

Fractur

a orni alif of C

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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

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