Facts World Atlas

A fact-by-fact look at our world, from a physical, geological,

astronomical, and political perspective.

• Factfiles on every country in the world.

• Political and physical maps.

• Full-color photographs and illustrations.

The most up-to-date information available, presented in

a unique easy-reference system of lists, fact boxes,

tables, and charts.

Find the fact you need in seconds with

JUST THE FACTS!

ISBN 0-7696-4260-8

US $9.95CAN $15.95

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WORLDATLAS

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HOW TO USE THIS BOOK....................................................................................4

PLANET EARTH ..................................................................................................................6• Planet Earth FACTFILE • Moon FACTFILE • Planet Earth from space• Inside planet Earth • Earth time • Hot and cold planet• Summer and winter • The solar system • Time zones

EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES .............................................................8• Earthquake FACTFILE • The cracked planet • Ever-changing planet • Story of an earthquake • Frequency of earthquakes worldwide • Inside a volcano • Earthquake and volcano disasters • Volcano FACTFILE • World’s largest volcano

MOUNTAINS, LAKES, RIVERS, AND OCEANS .....................10• Making a mountain • World’s 10 highest mountain peaks• The Andes • World’s 10 longest rivers • The world’s oceans• Ocean depths and coastlines • Ocean currents• What is a lake? • World’s 10 largest lakes

PHYSICAL WORLD....................................................................................................12• Physical world FACTFILE • Physical MAP OF THE WORLD• Making maps • The continents • World’s largest countries––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-–––––––––-–––––––––––––––

POLITICAL WORLD...................................................................................................14• World population • Highest population by country • Age structure of world population • World’s largest cities by population• Transport facts • Life expectancy • Wealth by continent • Political MAP OF THE WORLD • Independent states and dependencies––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-–––––––––-–––––––––––––––

NORTH AMERICA AND CENTRAL AMERICA..............................16• People FACTFILE • Geography FACTFILE • Highest mountains• Longest rivers • Largest islands • Oil consumption • Fast facts• Political MAP OF NORTH AMERICA• Political MAP OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

• Physical MAP OF NORTH AMERICA ...................................................18

• Physical MAP OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN................20• Climate: North and Central America • Habitats: North and Central America• Land use: North and Central America • San Andreas fault• North America FACTFILES

• Central America FACTFILES ...........................................................................................22––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-–––––––––-–––––––––––––––

SOUTH AMERICA........................................................................................................24• People FACTFILE • Geography FACTFILE • Highest mountains (by country) • Longest rivers • Largest lakes • Habitats • Amazon Rainforest facts • Fast facts• Political MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA

• Land use • Climate: South America• Physical MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA ...................................................26• South America FACTFILES––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-–––––––––-–––––––––––––––

AFRICA....................................................................................................................................28• People FACTFILE • Geography FACTFILE • Highest mountains • Longest rivers • Largest islands • Fast facts • Oil consumption • Political MAP OF AFRICA • Mount Kilimanjaro

• Physical MAP OF AFRICA .................................................................30

• Habitats and protecting Africa’s wildlife • Climate: Africa .................32• Land use • The African baobab tree • Africa FACTFILES––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-–––––––––-–––––––––––––––

EUROPE ..................................................................................................................................36• People FACTFILE • Geography FACTFILE • Highest mountains (by country) • Longest rivers • Largest islands • Fast facts • Oil consumption • Political MAP OF EUROPE

• Physical MAP OF EUROPE ................................................................38

• Habitats • Climate: Europe • The European Union ...........................40• European Union members • EU flag and the Euro • Land use • Europe FACTFILES––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-–––––––––-–––––––––––––––

ASIA............................................................................................................................................44• People FACTFILE • Geography FACTFILE • Highest mountains (by country) • Largest lakes • Largest islands • Siberia • Oil consumption • Political MAP OF ASIA

• Physical MAP OF ASIA .....................................................................46

• Habitats • The Asian rainforest • Climate: Asia ................................48• Land use • Fast facts • Asia FACTFILES––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-–––––––––-–––––––––––––––

OCEANIA ...............................................................................................................................52• People FACTFILE • Geography FACTFILE • Highest mountains (by country) • Largest islands • Habitats• Fast facts • Political MAP OF OCEANIA • Uluru • Land use • Climate: Oceania

• Physical MAP OF OCEANIA...............................................................54• Oceania FACTFILES––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-–––––––––-–––––––––––––––

THE ARCTIC/ANTARCTICA..............................................................................56

GLOSSARY ..........................................................................................................................58

INDEX .......................................................................................................................................60

CONTENTS

This edition published in the United States in 2006 by School Specialty Publishing, a member of the School Specialty Family.

Copyright © ticktock Entertainment Ltd 2005 First published in Great Britain in 2005 by ticktock Media Ltd. Printed in China.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a central retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by

any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, withouth the prior written permission of the publisher.

Written by Dee Phillips. Special thanks to: Alan Grimwade, Cosmographics, Indexing Specialists (UK) Ltd, and Elizabeth Wiggans.

Library of Congress-in-Publication Data is on file with the publisher.

Send all inquiries to:

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ISBN 0-7696-4260-8

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PHYSICAL MAP OF OCEANIA

The amount of oil produced,bought and sold, and used in theworld is measured in barrels. A barrel is equivalent to 42 gallons.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer ofoil—2,356,000 barrels per day

TOP 5 CONSUMERS OF OIL(USAGE PER DAY)

Egypt 562,000 barrelsSouth Africa 460,000 barrelsNigeria 275,000 barrelsLibya 216,000 barrelsAlgeria 209,000 barrels

28

Africa is the second largest continent in

the world. The world’s biggest desert,

the Sahara, dominates the landscape of

the north, while in the south forests and vast

grasslands are home to wild animals, such as

leopards, lions, and elephants. The Great Rift

Valley, one of the Earth’s major geological

features, runs from the Red Sea down to

Mozambique. This huge crack in the Earth’s

surface, caused by a series of faults, is made up of

mountains, volcanoes, deep valleys, and lakes.

NAME LOCATION HEIGHT (feet) Mt. Kilimanjaro Tanzania 19,341Mt. Kirinyaga (Mt. Kenya) Kenya 17,060Mount Stanley (Margherita Peak) Dem. Rep. Congo/Uganda 16,765Ras Dashen Ethiopia 15,157

NAME RIVER MOUTH LENGTH (miles)Nile Mediterranean 4,144Congo Atlantic Ocean 2,900Niger Atlantic Ocean 2,597Zambezi Indian Ocean 2,200

NAME AREA (sq miles)Madagascar Indian Ocean 226,657Réunion Indian Ocean 972

• Almost 90% of the rainforest inWest Africa has been destroyed.

• 90% of the rainforest on theAfrican island of Madagascarhas been destroyed. Around80% of the animal speciesfound on Madagascar live onlyon this island and nowhere elseon Earth (other than zoopopulations).

• Namibia was the first country inthe world to include protectingthe environment in itsconstitution. Around 14% ofNamibia is now protectedincluding the entire NamibDesert coast.

• Ancient rock paintings showthat 8,000 years ago theSahara Desert was a lush, greenplace that was home to manywild animals.

• It is believed that the first placein the world to cultivate coffeewas Ethiopia. It was grown inthe Kefa region of Ethiopiaaround 1000 years ago.

HIGHEST MOUNTAINS FAST FACTS

LONGEST RIVERS

LARGEST ISLANDS

OIL CONSUMPTION

P E O P L EFACTFILE

Total population:887,000,000

Highest population:Nigeria 128,771,988

Lowest population:Djibouti 476,703

Most populous city:Cairo, Egypt11,146,000 residents

Life expectancy:Male: 51 yearsFemale: 53 years

Highest infant mortality rate:Angola: 191 deaths per 1,000births – the highest in the world

Average annual income per person (in USD):Highest: Mauritius $12,800Lowest: Sierra Leone $600

G E O G R A P H YFACTFILE

Total land area:11,697,000 square miles

Largest country:Sudan: 967,499 square miles

Smallest country:Mayotte: 144 square miles

Largest lake:Lake Victoria, East Africa26,641 square miles

Largest desert:Sahara Desert, North Africa3.5 million square milesLargest desert in the world

Highest waterfall:Tugela Falls, South AfricaTotal drop: 3,110 feet

• See page 33AFRICA FACTFILES

An African leopard in theSamburu Game Reserve, Kenya.

• See page 24AMAZON RAINFOREST FACTS

• See page 11 WORLD’S 10 LARGEST LAKES

Madeira

Canary Is.

COMOROSMayotte

Réunion

SEYCHELLES

Mauritius

I N D I A NO C E A N

A T L A N T I CO C E A N

SAO TOME & PRINCIPE

REDSEA

MADAGASCAR

SOUTHAFRICA

LESOTHO

NAMIBIA

BOTSWANA

ZIMBABWE MOZAMBIQUE

ANGOLAZAMBIA

TANZANIA

SWAZILAND

K E N Y AUGANDA

E T H I O P I A

S U D A NC H A D

CENTRALAFRICANREPUBLIC

NIGERIA

CAMEROON

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

GABON

COTED’IVOIRE

GHANA

TOGO

BENINBURKINO FASO

M A L IMAURITANIA

SENEGALGAMBIA

GUINEABISSAU G U I N E A

SIERRALEONE

LIBERIA

WESTERNSAHARA

A L G E R I A L I B Y A

TUNISIAMOROCCO

N I G E R

E G Y P T

SOMALIA

ERITREA

DJIBOUTI

RWANDABURUNDI

MALAWI

DEMOCRATICREPUBLICOF CONGO

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CONGO

CapeVerde Is.

MEDITERRANEANE SEA

29

Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro is an extinct volcano. It is the highestmountain in the world that it is possible to scale without specialclimbing skills or equipment. Around 22,000 people climb Kilimanjaroevery year, making it the world’s most climbed mountain.

AFRICA

EUROPE

The Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Cancer

POLITICAL MAP OF AFRICA

MOUNT KILIMANJARO

0 500 1000 miles

0 500 1000 1500 kilometers

Due to rainforestdestruction, many

Madagascan animals,such as this ring-tailedlemur, are endangered.

AFRICAAFRICA

• See the GLOSSARY for definitions of LIFE

EXPECTANCY and INFANTMORTALITY RATE.

54

HOW TO USE THIS BOOKJUST THE FACTS, WORLD ATLAS combines detailed world maps with a quick and easy-to-use

way to research geography facts and find information on the world’s people, cities, countries,

rivers, lakes, and mountains. Each of the world’s continents has its own section. In addition, there

are pages containing facts about the solar system, time zones, landforms, earthquakes, volcanoes, and

the oceans. For fast access to just the facts, follow the tips on these pages.

TWO QUICK WAYSTO FIND A FACT:

Use the detailed CONTENTS list on page 3to find your topic of interest.

Turn to the relevantpage and use the BOX HEADINGS to find theinformation box you need.

Turn to the INDEX that starts on page 60 and search for key words relating toyour research.

• The index will direct you to the correct pageand where on the page to find the fact you need.

GLOSSARYA GLOSSARY of words and terms used in this book

begins on page 58. The glossary provides additional informationto supplement the facts on the main pages.

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JUST THE FACTSEach topic box presents the facts you needin lists; short, quick-to-read bullet points;charts, and tables

BOX HEADINGSLook for heading words linkedto your research to guide youto the right fact box.

PHYSICAL MAPSEach continent has a detailed physical

map that shows:• Borders

• Capital cities

• Major cities

• Highest mountains

• Rivers and lakes

• Land heights above and below sea level

• Oceans, seas, and major bodies of water

HOW TO FIND A PLACE USINGTHE PHYSICAL MAPS

Look up the place you want to find in the MAP INDEXon page 60–64. There you will see a page numberand a letter/number code. Look for the letter and

number on the grid at the edge of the relevant page.Draw a line with your fingers from those two points.You will find the place you are looking for where the

two tracks meet.

FACTFILES The section for each continent includes a file ofinformation on every country.

LINKSLook for the purple links throughout the book. Each link givesother pages where related or additional facts can be found.

GUADELOUPETotal area (sq. miles): 687Total population: 448,713Capital city: Basse-TerreCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, sugar cane, fruit, vegetables,livestockNatural resources: Limited, but beaches and climate good for tourism Status: French overseas territory

GUATEMALATotal area (sq. miles): 42,043Total population: 14,655,189Capital city: GuatemalaCurrency: Quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD)Languages: Spanish; Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, MamFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, corn, bananas, coffee, beansNatural resources (top 5): Oil, nickel, timber, fish, chicle

HAITITotal area (sq. miles): 10,714Total population: 8,121,622Capital city: Port-au-PrinceCurrency: Gourde (HTG)Languages: French; Creole Farming (top 5 products): Coffee, mangos, sugar cane, rice, cornNatural resources (top 5): Bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate,gold, marble

HONDURASTotal area (sq. miles): 43,278Total population: 6,975,204Capital city: TegucigalpaCurrency: Lempira (HNL)Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects Farming (top 5 products): Bananas, coffee, citrus fruits, cattle, timberNatural resources (top 5): Timber, gold, silver, copper, lead

JAMAICATotal area (sq. miles): 4,244Total population: 2,731,832Capital city: KingstonCurrency: Jamaican dollar (JMD)Languages: English, English patoisFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, bananas, coffee,citrus fruits, yamsNatural resources: Bauxite, gypsum, limestone

MARTINIQUETotal area (sq. miles): 425Total population: 432,900Capital city: Fort-de-FranceCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: French, Creole patois Farming (top 5 products): Pineapples, avocados, bananas,cut flowers, vegetablesNatural resources: Limited, but coastline and beachesgood for tourismStatus: French overseas territory

MEXICOTotal area (sq. miles): 761,606Total population: 106,202,903Capital city: Mexico (Distrito Federal)Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)Languages: Spanish, Mayan, NahuatlFarming (top 5 products): Corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beansNatural resources (top 5): Oil, silver, copper, gold, lead

MONTSERRATTotal area (sq. miles): 39Total population: 9,341Capital city: Temporary government buildingsat Brades Estate, Carr’s Bay and Little Bay due to 1997 volcanoCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Cabbages, carrots, cucumbers,tomatoes, onionsNatural resources: Very limited Status: United Kingdom overseas territory

NICARAGUATotal area (sq. miles): 49,998Total population: 5,465,100Capital city: ManaguaCurrency: Gold cordoba (NIO)Languages: SpanishFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, bananas, sugar cane, cotton, riceNatural resources (top 5): Gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead

PANAMATotal area (sq. miles): 30,193Total population: 3,039,150Capital city: PanamaCurrency: Balboa (PAB), US dollar (USD)Languages: Spanish, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugar caneNatural resources: Copper, mahogany forests, shrimps, hydroelectricpower

PUERTO RICOTotal area (sq. miles): 3,515Total population: 3,916,632Capital city: San JuanCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: Spanish, English Farming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, coffee, pineapples,plantains, bananasNatural resources: Copper and nickel (limited amounts), potentialfor onshore and offshore oilStatus: United States of America Commonwealth

ST. KITTS AND NEVISTotal area (sq. miles): 101Total population: 38,958Capital city: BasseterreCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, rice, yams, vegetables,bananasNatural resources: Arable land

ST. LUCIATotal area (sq. miles): 238Total population: 166,312Capital city: CastriesCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: English, French patoisFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, coconuts, vegetables,citrus fruits, root vegetablesNatural resources (top 5): Forests, beaches (for tourism), pumice,mineral springs, potential for geothermal power

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINESTotal area (sq. miles): 150Total population: 117,534Capital city: KingstownCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: English; French patoisFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes,spices, livestockNatural resources: Hydroelectric power

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGOTotal area (sq. miles): 1,980Total population: 1,088,644Capital city: Port-of-SpainCurrency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)Languages: English, Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese Farming (top 5 products): Cocoa, sugar cane, rice, citrus fruits, coffeeNatural resources: Oil, natural gas, asphalt

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 166Total population: 20,556Capital city: Grand TurkCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: English Farming: Corn, beans, cassava, citrus fruitsNatural resources: Fish, spiny lobsters, conch (tropical marine mollusks)Status: United Kingdom overseas territory

VIRGIN ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 136Total population: 108,708Capital city: Charlotte AmalieCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: English, Spanish or Spanish Creole, French or French Creole Farming: Fruit, vegetables, sorghum, cattleNatural resources: Limited, but climate and beaches good for tourismStatus: United States unincorporated territory

Each country-by-country factfile contains: total area of the country in square miles; total population; nameof the capital city; the main currency used in the country; main languages spoken (listed in order ofnumber of speakers); top five farming products produced (listed in order of importance to the country’seconomy); natural resources (of commercial importance; some countries do not have natural resources, suchas oil or minerals, but their coastline and climate attract tourists which are vital to the country’s economy); anda country’s status if it is not independent.

An inviting Virgin Islands’ beach.For many countries, the beautyof the environment is their most

important natural resource.

CENTRAL AMERICA FACTFILES

ANGUILLATotal area (sq. miles): 39 Total population: 13,254Capital city: The ValleyCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: EnglishFarming: Tobacco, vegetables, cattleNatural resources: Salt, fish, lobstersStatus: United Kingdom overseas territory

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDATotal area (sq. miles): 170 Total population: 68,722Capital city: Saint John’s (on Antigua)Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: English, local dialects Farming (top 5 products): Cotton, vegetables, bananas, coconuts,cucumbersNatural resources: Limited, but climate good for tourism

ARUBATotal area (sq. miles): 74.5 Total population: 71,566Capital city: OranjestadCurrency: Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)Languages: Dutch, Papiamento, EnglishFarming: Aloe plants, livestockNatural resources: Fish, white sandy beaches that are good for tourismStatus: Self-governing Netherlands territory

BAHAMAS (THE)Total area (sq. miles): 5382 Total population: 301,790Capital city: NassauCurrency: Bahamian dollar (BSD)Languages: English, CreoleFarming: Citrus fruits, vegetables, poultryNatural resources: Salt, aragonite, timber

BARBADOSTotal area (sq. miles): 166 Total population: 279,254Capital city: BridgetownCurrency: Barbadian dollar (BCD)Languages: EnglishFarming: Sugar cane, vegetables, cottonNatural resources: Oil, fish, natural gas

BELIZETotal area (sq. miles): 8,867 Total population: 279,457Capital city: BelmopanCurrency: Belizean dollar (BZD)Languages: English, Spanish, MayanFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, coca, citrus fruits, sugar cane, fishNatural resources: Timber, fish, hydroelectric power

BERMUDATotal area (sq. miles): 20.5Total population: 63,365Capital city: HamiltonCurrency: Bermudian dollar (BCD)Languages: English, Portuguese Farming (top 5 products): Bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, cut flowers, dairy productsNatural resources: Limestone, climate good for tourism Status: United Kingdom overseas territory

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 59Total population: 22,643Capital city: Road TownCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: English Farming: Fruit, vegetables, livestock, poultryNatural resources: Fish, islands good for tourismStatus: United Kingdom overseas territory

CAYMAN ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 101Total population: 44,270Capital city: George TownCurrency: Caymanian dollar (KYD)Languages: English Farming: Vegetables, fruit, livestock, turtle farmingNatural resources: Fish, climate and beaches good for tourism Status: United Kingdom overseas territory

COSTA RICATotal area (sq. miles): 19,730Total population: 4,016,173Capital city: San JoseCurrency: Costa Rican colon (CRC)Languages: Spanish, English Farming (top 5 products): Coffee, pineapples, bananas,sugar cane, cornNatural resources: Hydroelectric power

CUBATotal area (sq. miles): 42,803Total population: 11,346,670Capital city: HavanaCurrency: Cuban peso (CUP)Languages: Spanish Farming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, tobacco, citrus fruits, coffee, riceNatural resources (top 5): Cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper

DOMINICATotal area (sq. miles): 291Total population: 69,029Capital city: RoseauCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: English, French patois Farming (top 5 products): Bananas, citrus fruits, mangos,root vegetables, coconutsNatural resources: Timber, hydroelectric power

DOMINICAN REPUBLICTotal area (sq. miles): 18,815Total population: 8,950,034Capital city: Santo DomingoCurrency: Dominican peso (DOP)Languages: SpanishFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobaccoNatural resources: Nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

EL SALVADORTotal area (sq. miles): 8,124Total population: 6,704,932Capital city: San SalvadorCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: Spanish, NahuaFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, sugar cane, corn, rice, oilseedNatural resources: Hydroelectric power, geothermal power, oil

GRENADATotal area (sq. miles): 133Total population: 89,502Capital city: Saint George’sCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: English, French patois Farming (top 5 products): Bananas, cocoa, nutmeg,mace, citrus fruitsNatural resources: Timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors good forshipping

Opened in 1914, the 50-mile-long, man-madePanama Canal allows ships to sail from the

Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Before thecanal was built, ships had to sail all the way

around South America by Cape Horn.

• See the GLOSSARY for words and terms used in these FACTFILES.

2322

NORTH AMERICA AND CENTRAL AMERICA

8 9

EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES

Researchers believe that the Earth’s crust is cracked into huge pieces

that fit together like a giant puzzle. The cracked sections, called

tectonic plates, are supported by the oozing, soft rocks of the mantle

beneath the Earth’s crust. The unstable borders between the plates are known

as rings of fire. These areas are danger zones for both volcanoes and

earthquakes. A volcano is an opening in the Earth’s crust which allows red-

hot magma (molten rock) from the mantle to escape onto the surface of the

Earth. An earthquake is a shaking of the ground caused by movements of

rocks beneath the Earth’s surface.

E A R T H Q U A K EFACTFILE

Seismologists:Scientists who study and measureearthquakes are calledseismologists.

Measuring earthquakes:Seismologists use measuringinstruments called seismographs torecord the pattern of anearthquake’s seismic waves and todetermine out the strength andduration of the earthquake.

The Richter scale:The best known method ofrecording the magnitude ofearthquakes is the Richter Scale.American seismologist, Charles F.Richter, developed this numberingsystem in 1935.

Earthquake depths:The focus, the starting point, of mostearthquakes is less than 50 milesbelow the Earth’s surface.

Largest recorded earthquake:On May 22, 1960, an earthquakeof 9.5 magnitude on the RichterScale struck the coast of Chile,South America. Seismographsrecorded seismic waves travelingaround the whole world for manydays afterward.

V O L C A N OFACTFILE

ACTIVE OR EXTINCT?Active volcanoes are those thaterupt regularly or have the capacityto erupt. They are sometimes calleddormant if they have not erupted fora very long period. Extinctvolcanoes are dead volcanoes. They will not erupt again.

MAGMA/LAVAMagma is the red-hot, melted rockinside a volcano. As soon asmagma leaves a volcano and bursts out into the air or sea, it isknown as lava. Lava can erupt attemperatures of up to 2192˚F.

PLINIAN ERUPTIONSDuring a plinian eruption, gas-richmagma explodes inside a volcano.This causes cinder, ash, and gasesto be fired up into the air–sometimes as high as 19 miles!

A volcano is a self-made mountain. Its hollow centre provides a pathwaybetween the Earth’s upper mantle and the surface.

• The magnitude of an earthquake is a measurement of the earthquake’sstrength and size. The measuring system used here is the Richter Scale.

• The intensity of an earthquake is a measurement of the shaking caused by the earthquake.

Magnitude Description Intensity Average numbereach year

2 to 2.9 Very minor Recorded by seismographs, 1,300,000but not felt by people

3 to 3.9 Minor Felt by some people 130,0004 to 4.9 Light Felt by many people 13,0005 to 5.9 Moderate Slight damage 1,3196 to 6.9 Strong Damaging 1347 to 7.9 Major Destructive 178 and higher Great Devastating 1

PLATE MOVEMENTSTwo tectonic plates slowly move,squeezing and stretching the rocksunderground. Enormous pressurebuilds up.

FOCUS OF THE EARTHQUAKEMiles underground, rocks break andgive way, releasing the pressure.The point where this happens iscalled the focus or hypocenter.

SEISMIC WAVESVibrations, or seismic waves, aresent out from the focus causing theground at the surface to shake. Thepoint on the surface directly abovethe focus is called the epicenter.

FAULTSSometimes, the Earth’s crust is putunder such pressure that it cracks.The places where the surface cracksopen are called faults. The lines thecracks create are called fault lines.

MOST DEADLY EARTHQUAKEThe world’s most deadly, recordedearthquake happened in 1556. Theearthquake struck in central China.Around 830,000 people were killedwhen their homes, which werecarved in soft rock, collapsed.

KRAKATOAOn August 27, 1883, the volcanicisland of Krakatoa, in Indonesia,erupted in a massive explosionwhich could be heard across 8% ofthe Earth’s surface. Thousands ofpeople were swept out to sea by

a giant tsunami caused by theeruption. Over 36,000 people were killed.

EARTHQUAKES IN JAPANJapan is situated where four of the Earth’s plates meet. In 1923,143,000 people were killed in thearea around Tokyo, Japan’s capital,when a magnitude-8.3 earthquakestruck. On January 17, 1995, amagnitude-7.2 earthquake killed5,500 people and destroyed100,000 homes in Kobe, Japan.

Mauna Loa, Hawaii, is thelargest volcano on Earth. Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984.

Mauna Loa’s summit is 29,527feet from the ocean floor.However, scientists estimate thatits great mass is actually squashingthe ocean floor down by another26,246 feet, giving the volcano atotal height of just under 56,000feet from seafloor base to summit.

INSIDE A VOLCANO

FREQUENCY OF EARTHQUAKES WORLDWIDESTORY OF ANEARTHQUAKE

EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANO DISASTERS

WORLD’S LARGESTVOLCANO

• See page 6 INSIDE PLANET EARTH for information on the Earth’s crust and mantle.

• See page 9FREQUENCY OF EARTHQUAKES

WORLDWIDE to see how earthquakemagnitudes are measured using the

Richter scale.

OCEAN PLATECONTINENTAL PLATE

SPREADING RIDGE

Lava flows out through a riftin the ocean floor creatingnew crust and a range of

undersea mountains.

HOT SPOT VOLCANO

‘Hot spots’ are areas of greatactivity in the mantle where

magma forces its way througha tectonic plate.

MID-OCEAN RIDGE

OCEAN TRENCH

VOLCANOES

Where the plates collide, magma can escape tothe surface, creating a range of volcanic mountains.

NEW VOLCANICISLAND

OCEAN PLATE

CONTINENTAL RIFT

The point where two continental platesare moving apart.

SUBDUCTION ZONE

Where plates collide, the edge of one is often pushed underneath the other.This is called subduction. It may take place between continental plates,

ocean plates or one of each (as shown above).

Epicenter

Focus

Normalfault

Reversefault

Horizontal fault

Seismic waves

Ash cloudCraterLava flow

Main ventSide vent

Magmachamber

Earth’s crust

CrustMagma rises from the mantle intochambers inside the Earth’s crust

A satellite image of MaunaLoa. The volcano’s base

spreads over 50% of theisland of Hawaii.

Steepmountain sidescreated from a build-up oflava fromearliereruptions.

EVER-CHANGING PLANET

NORTH AMERICANPLATEJUAN DE FUCA

PLATE

PACIFIC PLATE

COCOSPLATE

NAZCA PLATESOUTH

AMERICANPLATE

CARIBBEANPLATE AFRICAN PLATE

ANATOLIANPLATE

EURASIANPLATE

ARABIANPLATE INDIA

PLATE

ANTARCTICPLATE

AUSTRALIANPLATE

PHILIPPINEPLATE

PACIFICPLATE

THE CRACKED PLANETThis map shows the edges of the tectonic plates that make up the Earth’s surface. The plates are constantlymoving by just a few inches each year.

The Earth’s tectonic plate movements set off earthquakes and volcanoes, as well as create mountain ranges and deep-sea trenches.

CONTINENT-BY-CONTINENT FACTS Each continent’s section opens with two pagesthat show key facts and statistics about thepeople and geography of that continent.

Pages packed with supplementary factsand geography information.

POLITICAL MAPSEach continent has a map that shows theterritories of all the countries.

• See page 33 AFRICA FACTFILES

Because the Earth is curved like aball, the Sun’s rays are weakerand more spread out at the Arcticand Antarctic, making theseregions cold.

At the Equator, the Sun’s raysare the most concentrated, sothis region is very hot.

76

Our planet, called Earth, is a ball of rock

traveling about 67,000 miles an hour through

space. Earth is moving around a star, called the

Sun. The pulling power, or gravity, of the Sun keeps the

Earth on an elliptical (oval-shaped) course. The time it

takes the Earth to make one complete orbit of the Sun is

called a year.

Planet Average distance from Sun Time taken to orbit the Sun Period of rotation Diameter at Planet’s(in millions of miles) (in Earth days) (in Earth days) Equator

Mercury 36 88 58.63 3033 milesVenus 67 224.7 243 7521 milesEarth 93 365.2 1 7926 milesMars 142 687 1.02 4222 milesJupiter 484 4331 0.41 88,846 milesSaturn 891 10,747 0.44 74,897 milesUranus 1785 30,589 0.72 31,763 milesNeptune 2793 59,800 0.67 30,775 milesPluto 3647 90,588 6.39 1485 miles

When viewed from space theEarth looks blue, brownand white.

The vast areas ofblue are oceans.70.7% of theEarth’s surface iscovered in water: anarea of 138,984,000square miles.

The brown areas are landmasses.29.3% of the Earth’s

surface is dry land: anarea of 57,688,000square miles.

The white areasare clouds hanging

in the atmosphere(the layer of gases

surrounding the Earth).

The crustThickness varies from 3 miles(beneath the oceans) to 12–43miles (where there arelandmasses and mountains).

The mantle Made of magnesium andsilicon and around 1,800miles thick. About 62 milesdown, the mantle becomesmolten (melted).

Outer coreMade of molten iron,

cobalt, and nickeland around 1,400

miles thick.

Inner coreMade of solidiron and around

800 miles thick.The temperature at

the core is 10,800˚F.

As the Earth spins, some parts of the world are in sunlight whileothers are in darkness. That is whyit is a different time in variousplaces in the world.

Therefore, the world has beendivided up into 24 time zones.Because the Earth rotates through360 degrees every 24 hours, eachtime zone covers 15 degrees oflongitude on a map of the world.

The zero point of longitude is atGreenwich in London. It is known as the Greenwich meridian. As youmove east or west from Greenwichthrough each new time zone, youadd or subtract an hour of time.

As Earth spins, it also tilts,so its position in relation tothe Sun gradually changesthroughout the year.

When the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, countries in the north have summer. Countries in the southern hemisphere have winter.

PLANET EARTH FROM SPACE

TIME ZONES

INSIDE PLANET EARTH

P L A N E T E A R T HFACTFILEAge of the Earth:4.5 billion years old

Diameter at the Equator:7,926 miles across

Diameter at the Poles:7,900 miles across

Circumference at the Equator:23,627 miles around

Weight (mass) of the Earth:6.6 sextillion tons

Average surface temperature:59˚F

Rotational speed at the Equator:995 mphThe Earth is a ball spinning on anaxis, so places at the Equator spinmuch faster than at the North andSouth Poles.

M O O NFACTFILE

A moon is a ball of rock thatorbits a planet. Moons aresometimes called satellites.The Earth has one moon.

Length of Moon’s orbit:The Moon orbits the Earth onceevery 27 days, 7 hours, and 43minutes. It takes the same length oftime to rotate once on its own axis.

Orbiting speed:2300 mph

Distance from the Earth:The distance varies from 221,456–238,857 miles.

Circumference of the Moon:6,790 miles around the middle

A yearThe exact time it takes for theEarth to make one complete orbitof the Sun is 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds.

A leap yearBecause it is more convenient to use a calendar of 365 wholedays, every four years we have to add up the extra 6 hours, 9minutes and 10 seconds to makean extra day. These 366-day yearsare called leap years.

A dayAs the Earth orbits the Sun it alsorotates, or spins around. Onecomplete rotation takes 23 hours,56 minutes and 4 seconds. We round this period up to 24hours and call it a day.

PLANET EARTH

EARTH TIME

Tropic of Cancer

Arctic Circle

Antarctic Circle

The Equator Sun’s rays strongest

Sun’s rays weakest

Sun’s rays weakest

Tropic of Capricorn

Earth is dividied into differentsections by human beings sothat it

is easier to study.

Summer

Summer

Winter

Day for the half of theEarth facing the Sun.

12:00 pmGreenwich,London, UK

07:00 amNew York, USA

04:00 amSeattle, USA

3:00 pmMoscow, Russia

9:00 pmTokyo, Japan

Night for the half of the Earthfacing away from the Sun.

The Earth travels 585,000,000 milesin a year to complete one orbit.

Winter

Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto

The Earth is one of nineplanets that make up the

Solar System.

HOT AND COLD PLANET

SUMMER AND WINTEREarth’s orbit – 365 days (approx)

GREENWICH

SEATTLENEW YORK

MOSCOW

TOKYO

-12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +10 +11 +12

NORTHAMERICA

SOUTHAMERICA

AFRICA

EUROPE ASIA

OCEANIA

THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Sun

8 9

EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES

Researchers believe that the Earth’s crust is cracked into huge

pieces that fit together like a giant puzzle. The cracked sections,

called tectonic plates, are supported by the oozing, soft rocks of the

mantle beneath the Earth’s crust. The unstable borders between the plates are

known as rings of fire. These areas are danger zones for both volcanoes and

earthquakes. A volcano is an opening in the Earth’s crust which allows red-

hot magma (molten rock) from the mantle to escape onto the surface of the

Earth. An earthquake is a shaking of the ground caused by movements of

rocks beneath the Earth’s surface.

E A R T H Q U A K EFACTFILE

Seismologists:Scientists who study and measureearthquakes are calledseismologists.

Measuring earthquakes:Seismologists use measuringinstruments called seismographs torecord the pattern of anearthquake’s seismic waves and todetermine out the strength andduration of the earthquake.

The Richter scale:The best known method ofrecording the magnitude ofearthquakes is the Richter Scale.American seismologist, Charles F.Richter, developed this numberingsystem in 1935.

Earthquake depths:The focus, the starting point, of mostearthquakes is less than 50 milesbelow the Earth’s surface.

Largest recorded earthquake:On May 22, 1960, an earthquakeof 9.5 magnitude on the RichterScale struck the coast of Chile,South America. Seismographsrecorded seismic waves travelingaround the whole world for manydays afterward.

V O L C A N OFACTFILE

ACTIVE OR EXTINCT?Active volcanoes are those thaterupt regularly or have the capacityto erupt. They are sometimes calleddormant if they have not erupted fora very long period. Extinctvolcanoes are dead volcanoes. They will not erupt again.

MAGMA/LAVAMagma is the red-hot, melted rockinside a volcano. As soon asmagma leaves a volcano and bursts out into the air or sea, it isknown as lava. Lava can erupt attemperatures of up to 2192˚F.

PLINIAN ERUPTIONSDuring a plinian eruption, gas-richmagma explodes inside a volcano.This causes cinder, ash, and gasesto be fired up into the air–sometimes as high as 19 miles!

A volcano is a self-made mountain. Its hollow centre provides a pathwaybetween the Earth’s upper mantle and the surface.

• The magnitude of an earthquake is a measurement of the earthquake’sstrength and size. The measuring system used here is the Richter Scale.

• The intensity of an earthquake is a measurement of the shaking caused by the earthquake.

Magnitude Description Intensity Average numbereach year

2 to 2.9 Very minor Recorded by seismographs, 1,300,000but not felt by people

3 to 3.9 Minor Felt by some people 130,0004 to 4.9 Light Felt by many people 13,0005 to 5.9 Moderate Slight damage 1,3196 to 6.9 Strong Damaging 1347 to 7.9 Major Destructive 178 and higher Great Devastating 1

PLATE MOVEMENTSTwo tectonic plates slowly move,squeezing and stretching the rocksunderground. Enormous pressurebuilds up.

FOCUS OF THE EARTHQUAKEMiles underground, rocks break andgive way, releasing the pressure.The point where this happens iscalled the focus or hypocenter.

SEISMIC WAVESVibrations, or seismic waves, aresent out from the focus causing theground at the surface to shake. Thepoint on the surface directly abovethe focus is called the epicenter.

FAULTSSometimes, the Earth’s crust is putunder such pressure that it cracks.The places where the surface cracksopen are called faults. The lines thecracks create are called fault lines.

MOST DEADLY EARTHQUAKEThe world’s most deadly, recordedearthquake happened in 1556. Theearthquake struck in central China.Around 830,000 people were killedwhen their homes, which werecarved in soft rock, collapsed.

KRAKATOAOn August 27, 1883, the volcanicisland of Krakatoa, in Indonesia,erupted in a massive explosionwhich could be heard across 8% ofthe Earth’s surface. Thousands ofpeople were swept out to sea by

a giant tsunami caused by theeruption. Over 36,000 people were killed.

EARTHQUAKES IN JAPANJapan is situated where four of the Earth’s plates meet. In 1923,143,000 people were killed in thearea around Tokyo, Japan’s capital,when a magnitude-8.3 earthquakestruck. On January 17, 1995, amagnitude-7.2 earthquake killed5,500 people and destroyed100,000 homes in Kobe, Japan.

Mauna Loa, Hawaii, is thelargest volcano on Earth. Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984.

Mauna Loa’s summit is 29,527feet from the ocean floor.However, scientists estimate thatits great mass is actually squashingthe ocean floor down by another26,246 feet, giving the volcano atotal height of just under 56,000feet from seafloor base to summit.

INSIDE A VOLCANO

FREQUENCY OF EARTHQUAKES WORLDWIDESTORY OF ANEARTHQUAKE

EARTHQUAKE AND VOLCANO DISASTERS

WORLD’S LARGESTVOLCANO

• See page 6 INSIDE PLANET EARTH for information on the Earth’s crust and mantle.

• See page 9FREQUENCY OF EARTHQUAKES

WORLDWIDE to see how earthquakemagnitudes are measured using the

Richter scale.

OCEAN PLATECONTINENTAL PLATE

SPREADING RIDGE

Lava flows out through a riftin the ocean floor creatingnew crust and a range of

undersea mountains.

HOT SPOT VOLCANO

‘Hot spots’ are areas of greatactivity in the mantle where

magma forces its way througha tectonic plate.

MID-OCEAN RIDGE

OCEAN TRENCH

VOLCANOES

Where the plates collide, magma can escape tothe surface, creating a range of volcanic mountains.

NEW VOLCANICISLAND

OCEAN PLATE

CONTINENTAL RIFT

The point where two continental platesare moving apart.

SUBDUCTION ZONE

Where plates collide, the edge of one is often pushed underneath the other.This is called subduction. It may take place between continental plates,

ocean plates or one of each (as shown above).

Epicenter

Focus

Normalfault

Reversefault

Horizontal fault

Seismic waves

Ash cloudCraterLava flow

Main ventSide vent

Magmachamber

Earth’s crust

CrustMagma rises from the mantle intochambers inside the Earth’s crust

A satellite image of MaunaLoa. The volcano’s base

spreads over 50% of theisland of Hawaii.

Steepmountain sidescreated from a build-up oflava fromearliereruptions.

EVER-CHANGING PLANET

NORTH AMERICANPLATEJUAN DE FUCA

PLATE

PACIFIC PLATE

COCOSPLATE

NAZCA PLATESOUTH

AMERICANPLATE

CARIBBEANPLATE AFRICAN PLATE

ANATOLIANPLATE

EURASIANPLATE

ARABIANPLATE INDIA

PLATE

ANTARCTICPLATE

AUSTRALIANPLATE

PHILIPPINEPLATE

PACIFICPLATE

THE CRACKED PLANETThis map shows the edges of the tectonic plates that make up the Earth’s surface. The plates are constantlymoving by just a few inches each year.

The Earth’s tectonic plate movements set off earthquakes and volcanoes, as well as create mountain ranges and deep-sea trenches.

• The Andes are the world’slongest chain of mountains. They stretch down the west coast of South America for around 5,500 miles.

• The Andes include the highestmountain in South America,Aconcagua in Argentina, which is 22,834 feet high. Many of the mountains in the Andes are volcanic.

• The Andes were formed around70 million years ago by the collision of the Nazca Oceanic Plate with the South American Continental Plate.

1110

A lake is a large body of water surrounded by land. Most lakes are fullof fresh water. Lakes form in basins in the Earth’s surface. Rainwater ormelted snow and ice collect in the basin. Water also feeds in from riversand streams.

• Lakes without a river flowing outward lose water through evaporation. Thewater becomes salty as minerals in the lake become more concentrated.The world’s largest lake, the Caspian Sea, is a salt water lake.

• Lake Baykal in Russia is the world’s deepest lake. Its deepest point is5,315 feet deep.

Lake name Area (sq. miles)

1. Caspian Sea Asia 143,2442. Lake Superior Canada/USA 31,6603. Lake Victoria East Africa 26,6414. Lake Huron Canada/USA 23,0115. Lake Michigan USA 22,3166. Lake Tanganyika Central Africa 12,7417. Great Bear Lake Canada 12,0848. Lake Baykal Russia 11,9699. Lake Malawi/Nyasa East Africa 11,42810. Aral Sea Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan 11,076

WHAT IS A LAKE?

WORLD’S 10 LARGEST LAKES

THE ANDES

There are five oceans in the worldand many smaller seas within the oceans.

• The Pacific ocean is the world’slargest ocean – its total area is greater than the amount of dry land on Earth.

• The Southern Ocean circumnavigates the continent of Antarctica. It officially became an ocean in 2000, and was formed from the southern sections of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans.

The deepest points in each of the world’s oceans are listed below. They are measured from sea level (the surface of the ocean).

Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench Pacific Ocean -35,840 feetMilwaukee Deep, Puerto Rico Trench Atlantic Ocean -28,232 feetJava Trench Indian Ocean -23,812 feetSouthern end of South Sandwich Trench Southern Ocean -23,737 feetFram Basin Arctic Ocean -15,305 feet

Total length of coastline on each ocean:

Pacific Ocean 84,297 milesAtlantic Ocean 69,510 milesIndian Ocean 41,337 milesArctic Ocean 28,203 milesSouthern Ocean 11,165 miles

The oceans are never still.Tides rise and fall, and oceancurrents, which are like riversin oceans, move the wateraround.

Surface currents are created by the wind. Currentsdeep underwaterare created bytemperaturedifferences and theamount of salt in the water.

OCEAN CURRENTS

OCEAN DEPTHS AND COASTLINES

From the Himalayas, the world’s tallest mountains, to the deepest

ocean trench six and half miles below the surface of the Pacific

ocean, the Earth’s surface is slowly changing. Mountains grow inch-

by-inch and year-by-year, rivers carve new channels as they rush to the sea,

and oceans push and pull at the edges of the land.

MOUNTAINS, LAKES,RIVERS, AND OCEANSMountains are formed when the

Earth’s tectonic plates move.

• As layers of rocks push againsteach other, they buckle and fold at the edges. Mountains are pushed up at upfolds, andvalleys are formed in downfolds.

• When the Earth’s crust cracks on a fault, layers of rock on oneside of the crack can be pushedup to form a mountain.

• When molten magma burststhrough the Earth’s crust, ithardens and cools, sometimesforming a mountain.

• Heat from molten rock in themantle pushes layers of solidrock in the Earth’s crust upwardcreating a bulge on the Earth’ssurface.

MAKING AMOUNTAIN

Rivers begin their lives as small streams high up on mountains or hills.They grow and grow, joining with other small rivers, until they form onebig river which reaches the sea or lake. River water comes from rainfall,melted ice or snow, and groundwater from inside the Earth’s crust.

River Length (miles)1. Nile Africa 4,1442. Amazon South America 4,0073. Yangtze Asia 3,9644. Mississippi-Missouri N. America 3,7405. Yenisey-Angara Asia 3,4486. Huang He (Yellow) Asia 3,3957. Ob-Irtysh Asia 3,3618. Congo Africa 2,9009. Parana South America 2,79610. Mekong Asia 2,702

WORLD’S 10 LONGEST RIVERS

Some mountain peaks stand alone high above the surrounding landscape, but most mountains are joinedtogether to form a range. When several ranges of mountains are grouped together, they are called a chain.

The world’s ten highest mountain peaks are all in the same range of mountains in Asia—the Himalayas.

Mountain name Country Height (feet)1. Everest China/Nepal 29,0352. K2 China/Pakistan 28,2513. Kanchenjunga India/Nepal 28,1694. Lhotse China/Nepal 27,9395. Makalu China/Nepal 27,8246. Cho Oyu China/Nepal 26,9067. Dhaulagiri Nepal 26,8118. Manaslu Nepal 26,7589. Nanga Parbat Pakistan 26,66010. Annapurna Nepal 26,502

WORLD’S 10 HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAKSFold mountain

Mount Everest—the highest mountainin the world.

Coasts can be icy, rocky, orsandy, like these beaches at Rio

de Janeiro, Brazil, on SouthAmerica’s east coast.

(Numbers are rounded as appropriate.)

Fault mountain

Volcanic mountain

The Nile River snakesthrough Egypt’s capital

city, Cairo. The Nile flowsthrough northeast Africa outinto the Mediterranean Sea.

Dome mountain

• See page 8 THE CRACKED PLANET and EVER-CHANGING PLANET

• See page 8 EVER-CHANGING PLANET

for information on how oceantrenches are formed.

Pacific OceanPacific Ocean:60,000,000

sq. miles

Southern Ocean:7,800,000sq. miles

Arctic Ocean:5,400,000 sq. miles

Atlantic Ocean:29,600,000

sq. milesIndian Ocean:26,400,000

sq. miles

THE WORLD’S OCEANS

Warm water currentsCold water currents

Lake Victoria,the largestlake in Africa.Over 200species of fish live in its waters.

((numbers are rounded as appropriate.)

(Numbers are rounded as appropriate.)

P A C I F I C

O C E A N

AN

DE

S

R O C K YM

OU

NT A

I NS

A M A Z O NB A S I N

CARIBBEANSEA

A R C T I C O C E A N

NORTH AMERICA

SOUTHAMERICA

GREENL

GULFOF

ALASKA

GULF OFMEXICO

13

PHYSICAL WORLD

KALAHAR I

DESERT

TROP IC

TROP IC OF

AR

ANTAR

P A C I F I C

O C E A N

I N D I A N

O C E A N

ARAB IANSEA

S A H A R A

ALPS

S I B E R I AH

I MA L A Y A S

PLATEAUOF TIBET

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

RE

DS

EA B A Y

O FB E N G A L

BLACK SEA

UR

AL

MO

UN

T AI N

S

S O U T H E R NO C E A N

EUROPEASIA

OCEANIA

A N T A R C T I C A

A F R I C A

LAND

A R A B I A NP E N I N S U L A

Planet Earth is three dimensional: it has length, width, and height.

In order to create two dimensional maps for an atlas, map makers,

called cartographers, have devised ways to convert the Earth’s curved

surface into flat images, called projections. The projection below is a

physical map of the whole world. It shows physical features such as

mountains, and has a key that shows how the map’s colors denote different

environments, such as tundra and desert.

PHYSICAL WORLD FACTFILE

Total surface area of Earth:196,672,000 square miles

Total length of coastline on Earth:234,512 miles

Largest ocean:Pacific OceanTotal area: 60 million square miles

Largest oceanic island:Greenland, North AmericaTotal area: 836,330 square miles

Largest lake:Caspian Sea, Asia is a land-locked salt water lake.Total area: 143,244 square miles

Largest freshwater lake:Lake Superior in Canada/USATotal area: 31,660 square miles

Largest freshwater island:Ilha de Marajó, Brazil, SouthAmerica, an island at the mouth ofthe Amazon River.Total area: 15,500 square miles

Longest river:Nile, Africa Total length: 4,144 miles

Tallest mountain:Mount Everest, Himalayas range,border of China and Nepal, AsiaHeight: 29,035 feet

Longest cave system:Mammoth Caves, USA360 miles of caves have beenexplored and mapped.

Largest gorge:Grand Canyon, USATotal length: 277 milesWidest point: 15 miles

Largest desert:Sahara desert, North AfricaTotal area: 3.5 million square miles

Highest waterfall:Angel Falls, Venezuela, SouthAmerica has an uninterrupted fall of 3,212 feet of water.

Hottest recorded temperature:Al Aziziyah, Libya 136˚F

Lowest recorded temperature:Vostok Base, Antarctica-128˚F

CONTINENT Area (square miles) Percentage of total land

Asia 17,177,000 29.8%Africa 11,697,000 20.3%North and Central America 9,357,000 16.2%South America 6,868,000 11.9%Antarctica 5,443,000 9.4%Europe 3,843,000 6.7%Oceania 3,303,000 5.7%

THE CONTINENTS

Area (square miles)1. Russia 6,592,7722. Canada 3,855,1033. USA 3,718,7114. China 3,705,4075. Brazil 3,286,488

WORLD’S LARGESTCOUNTRIES

PHYSICAL MAP OF THE WORLD

The projection on these pages wascreated by a process that’s a bitlike peeling an orange, thensmoothing the skin out.

The flat, peeled version of theEarth was then stretched andmanipulated by computer tocreate the map we see below.

MAKING MAPS

ARCTIC OCEAN

ARCTIC OCEANN

E

S

W

Mountains

Ice

Forest

Grassland

Desert

Tundra

The Grand Canyon in Arizona was carved from thesurrounding rock by the flow of the Colorado River.

Its average depth is 4,000 feet. In the deepest places, the gorge is 6,000 feet deep.

Parts of the SaharaDesert in Africa can

go for severalyears without

having any rain.

MAP KEY

PHYSICAL MAP OF THE WORLD

12

CASPIANSEA

NORTH ATLANTICOCEAN

The Angels Falls inVenezuela, SouthAmerica, were namedfor an Americanadventurer JamesAngel who crash-landed his plane nearthe top of the falls in1937.

C A N A D A

MEXICO CUBA

JAMAICABELIZE

DOMINICANREPUBLIC

HAITI PUERTORICOGUATEMALA

COSTA RICA

NICARAGUA

HONDURAS

EL SALVADOR

PANAMA

COLOMBIA

VENEZUELA

TRINIDAD &TOBAGO

GUYANA

SURINAME

FRENCHGUIANA

ECUADOR

B R A Z I LPERU

PARAGUAY

ARGENTINA

URUGUAY

FALKLAND/MALVINAS ISLANDS

G R E E N L A N D(KALAALLIT NUNAAT)

UNITED STATES

OF AMERICAC

HI

LE

HAWAII

GALAPAGOS IS

N O R T H

A T L A N T I C

O C E A N

CARIBBEANSEA

GULF OFMEXICO

ICELAND

FINLAND

DENMARKUNITED

KINGDOMIRELAND

FRANCE

BELGIUM

NETHERLANDS

LUXEMBOURG

GERMANY

LITHUANIARUSSIA

POLANDBELARUS

U K R A I N E

SPAINPORTUGAL

CZECHREP.

AUSTRIASWITZERLAND

ITALY

SLOVAKREP.

HUNGARY

SERBIA-MONTENEGROBULGARIA

ROMANIA

MOLDOVA

GREECETURKEY

CYPRUS

MOROCCO

WESTERNSAHARA

A L G E R I AL I B Y A

TUNISIA

MAURITANIA

SENEGALGAMBIA

GUINEA-BISSAU

GUINEA

SIERRA LEONE

LIBERIA

M A L I

BURKINAFASO

IVORYCOAST GH

ANA

T OGO BE

NIN NIGERIA

N I G E R C H A D

E G Y P T

S U D A NERITREA

E T H I O P I ACENTRAL AFRICANREPUBLIC

CAMEROON

EQUATORIALGUINEA

GABONREPUBLIC OF

CONGORWANDA

BURUNDI

UGANDA KENYA

SOMALIA

ANGOLA

NAMIBIA

ZAMBIA

TANZANIA

MALAWI

ZIMBABWE

BOTSWANA

MOZAMBIQUE

MADAGASCAR

SWAZILAND

LESOTHOSOUTHAFRICA

MAURITIUS

RÉUNION

GEORGIA

ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN

SYRIALEBANON

ISRAELJORDAN

IRAQ I R A N

SAUDI

ARABIA

QATARUNITEDARAB

EMIRATES

OMAN

YEMEN

I N D I A

AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

UZBEKISTAN KYRGYZSTAN

TAJIKISTAN

KAZAKHSTAN

SRILANKA

NEPAL BHUTAN

BANGLADESH

LAOS

THAILAND

CAMBODIA

VIETNAM

M A L A Y S I ABRUNEI

PHILIPPINES

TAIWAN

I N D O N E S I A PAPUANEW

GUINEASOLOMONISLANDS

VANUATU

NEW CALEDONIA

A U S T R A L I A

NEWZEALAND

R U S S I A NF E D E R A T I O N

M O N G O L I A

NORTHKOREA

SOUTHKOREA

JAPANC H I N A

ANDORRA

NO

RW

A

Y

SW

ED

EN

LATVIA

ESTONIA

CROATIABOSNIA-

HERZEGOVINA

ALBANIAMACEDONIA

KUWAIT


DJBOUTI

SLOVENIA

BURMA

SINGAPORE

S O U T H

A T L A N T I C

O C E A N

P A C I F I C

O C E A N

I N D I A N

O C E A N

ARAB IANSEA

M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A

B A YO F

B E N G A L

BLACK SEA

Life expectancy at birthtotal population:Male: 63 yearsFemale: 66 years

Highest life expectancy:Andorra, Europe 83.5 years

Lowest life expectancy:Botswana, Africa 34 years

Median age is the age that dividesa population in two – half thepeople are younger than this age,and half are older.

Total world populationmedian age: 27.6 years

Male: 27 years

Female: 28.2 years

This chart shows the world’spopulation by age group.

1514

POLITICAL WORLDThis map is a political map of the world. The colors on the map

show how people divide up the world into territories, or individual

countries. The number of countries in the world changes often.

Sometimes, large countries divide up into smaller countries. Other times, a

group of small countries will join together to become one large country.If

you were to look at a political map of the world 50 years from now, it might

look quite different to how the political world looks today.

LIFE EXPECTANCY

Total length of roads in the world:

20,098,354 miles

Total length of railway in the world:692,956 miles

Number of airports in the world:

49,973

TRANSPORT FACTS

AGE STRUCTURE OF WORLD POPULATION

Total world population in2005:

6,446,131,400

World population growthper year:

1.14%

1. China 1,306,313,8122. India 1,080,264,3883. USA 295,734,1344. Indonesia 241,973,879 5. Brazil 186,112,7946. Pakistan 162,419,9467. Bangladesh 144,319,6288. Russia 143,420,3099. Nigeria 128,771,98810. Japan 127,417,244

1. Tokyo Japan 35,327,000

2. Mexico City Mexico 19,013,000

3. New York USA 18,498,000

4. Mumbai (Bombay) India 18,336,000

5. S~ao Paulo Brazil 18,333,000

6. Delhi India 15,334,000

7. Kolkata (Calcutta) India 14,299,000

8. Buenos Aires Argentina 13,349,000

9. Jakarta Indonesia 13,194,000

10. Shanghai China 12,665,000

0–14 years

15–64 years

65+ years

27.8%

64.9%

7.3%

(Numbers include the city and surrounding urban areas.)

• Territories anddependencies are noted in

the country-by-countryFACTFILES.

• See the GLOSSARY forLIFE EXPECTANCY

SOUTHERN OCEAN

WORLD POPULATION

HIGHEST POPULATIONBY COUNTRY

WORLD’S LARGEST CITIES BY POPULATION

Share of world’s wealth by continent

In the world today, there are 192 countries,or states, which have their own governmentand are completely independent. There are also many countries that are

territories or dependencies of one of the independent states. Territories anddependencies are governed and protected by the independent country

INDEPENDENT STATES AND DEPENDENCIES

KeyEuropeOceaniaAsiaAfricaSouth AmericaNorth America

World population by continent

WEALTH BY CONTINENT

1.4%2.2%

3.7%

7.1%15.5%

0.4%

58.3%

6.7%

12%

32.7%

35.3%

24.7%

POLITICAL MAP OF THE WORLDPOLITICAL MAP OF THE WORLD

Oil is a fossil fuel (a naturalresource) that we burn to producepower for heating and lighting. Itis also used as fuel for cars,trucks, and planes.

Oil production and consumption ismeasured in barrels. A barrel isequivalent to 42 gallons.


USA 19,650,000 barrelsCanada 2,200,000 barrelsPuerto Rico 190,000 barrelsCuba 163,000 barrelsJamaica 66,000 barrels

1716

The North American continent lies between

the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This

varied region stretches from the icy plains

of arctic North America to the hot deserts and lush

tropical forests of Central America and the

Caribbean islands. Dominating western North

America are the Rocky Mountains, which stretch

for 3000 miles from Canada to New Mexico,

through the United States of America.

NORTH AMERICA ANDCENTRAL AMERICA

NAME LOCATION HEIGHT (feet)Mt. McKinley USA (Alaska) 20,322Mt. Logan Canada 19,849Pico de Orizaba Mexico 18,406Mt. St Elias USA/Canada 18,008

NAME RIVER MOUTH LENGTH (miles)Mississippi-Missouri Gulf of Mexico 3,740Mackenzie Arctic Ocean 2,635Yukon Pacific Ocean 1,979Rio Grande Gulf of Mexico 1,889

NAME LOCATION AREA (sq miles)Greenland Atlantic Ocean 836,330Baffin Island Canada 196,100Victoria Island Canada 81,900

• The center of Greenland hassunk to 1,000 feet below sealevel due to the weight of thehuge ice sheet that covers mostof the island.

• At 282 feet below sea level,Death Valley in California is thelowest place in the westernhemisphere. Summertemperatures often exceed120ºF.

• The USA is the world’s thirdlargest producer of oil—7,800,000 barrels each day.

• The saguaro cactus only growsin the Sonoran desert in theUSA and Mexico. Saguaros cangrow to 50 feet tall and live for175 years.

• Cuba is the fifth largest island inthe region at 42,803 squaremiles.


LONGEST RIVERSLONGEST RIVERS

LARGEST ISLANDSLARGEST ISLANDS

OIL CONSUMPTION

M E X I C O

U N I T E DS T A T E S O F

A M E R I C A

C A N A D A

Alaska(USA)

GREENLAND(KALAALL IT NUNAAT)

BERMUDA

C U B AHAITI

JAMAICA

DOMINICANREPUBLIC

PUERTORICO

St. Lawrence Island

KodiakIsland

QUEEN CHARLOTTEISLANDS

VictoriaIsland

Belcher Is.

BaffinIsland

Newfoundland

EllesmereIsland

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

St.-Pierre &Miquelon

VANCOUVER ISLAND

R U S S I A NF E D E R A T I O N

QUEENEL IZABETHISLANDS

A R C T I CO C E A N

C H U K C H I S E A

B E R I N GS E A

B E A U F O R TS E A

GULF OF ALASKA

P A C I F I CO C E A N

G U L F O F M E X I C O

H u d s o nB a y

B a f f i nB a y

L A B R A D O RS E A


Nor thMagne t i cPo l e

POLITICAL MAP OF NORTH AMERICA

P A N A M ACOSTARICA

NICARAGUA

HONDURAS

EL SALVADOR

GUATEMALA

BELIZE

C U B AHAITI

JAMAICA

DOMINICANREPUBLIC

PUERTORICO

THEBAHAMAS

CAYMANISLANDS

TURKS & CAICOSISLANDS

M E X I C O

Aruba

Lake Nicaragua

BritishVirginIslandsAndros I.

BarbudaAntigua

GuadeloupeSt. Kitts& NevisMontserrat Domínica

Martinique

St. LuciaBarbados

St. Vincent

Grenada

TRINIDAD

Tobago

NetherlandsAntilles

L E S S E R A NT

IL

LE

S

G R E A T E R A N T I L L E S

Anguilla

G U L F O F M E X I C O

B a y o fC a m p e c h e

Gulf ofTehuantepec

MosquitoGulf

C A R I B B E A NS E A

Gulf of Honduras

Gu

l fo

fC

al i f o

r ni a Y u c a t á n C h a n n e l

Virgin Is

& The Grenadines

POLITICAL MAP OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

P E O P L EFACTFILE

Total population:North America: 328,600,000Central America: 185,800,000

Highest population:USA 295,734,134

Lowest population:St. Pierre and Miquelon 7,012

Most populous city:Mexico City, Mexico19,013,000 residents

Life expectancy:North America: 77 yearsCentral America: 73 years

Highest infant mortality rate:Haiti: 73 deaths per 1,000 births

Average annual income per person (in USD):Highest: USA $40,100Lowest: Haiti $1,500



Largest country:Canada: 3,855,103 square milesSecond largest country in the world

Smallest country:Bermuda: 20.5 square miles

Largest lake:Lake Superior, Canada/USA Total area: 31,660 square miles

Largest desert:Great Basin Desert, USATotal area: 190,000 square miles

Highest waterfall:Ribbon Fall, Yosemite NationalPark, USATotal drop: 1,612 feet

• See page 21 NORTH AMERICA FACTFILES

and page 22 CENTRAL AMERICA FACTFILES


HAWAII

MAUI

OAHU

KAUAI

NORTH AMERICA

SOUTHAMERICA

ASIA

Arctic Circle

Tropic ofCancer

CENTRAL AMERICA

Rising majestically from thedesert floor, 1000-feet high

sandstone rock forms inMonument Valley, Utah.

• See the GLOSSARY fordefinitions of LIFE EXPECTANCYand INFANT MORTALITY RATE.

SOUTHAMERICA

The Equator

For Bermuda, see map above.

0 500 1000 miles

0 500 1000 1500 kilometers


1918

PHYSICAL MAP OF NORTH AMERICA PHYSICAL MAP OF NORTH AMERICA

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

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K

L

M

A A

NN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11


N

E

S

W

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 91

B

A

C

D

E

F

PHYSICAL MAP OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

P

O

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K

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10 11 12

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2120

CANADATotal area (sq. miles):3,855,103Total population:32,805,041Capital city: OttawaCurrency: Canadian dollar (CAD)Languages: English, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, oilseed,tobacco, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Iron ore, nickel, zinc,copper, gold

GREENLANDTotal area (sq. miles):836,330Total population: 56,375Capital city: NuukCurrency: Danish krone (DKK)Languages: Greenlandic (Inuit mixed with Danish);Danish, English Farming: Forage crops (for animals), vegetables,sheep, reindeerNatural resources (top 5): Coal, iron ore, lead, zinc,molybdenumStatus: Self-governing Danish territory

SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELONTotal area (sq. miles): 93Total population: 7,012Capital city: Saint-PierreCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: Creole Farming: Vegetables, poultry, livestockNatural resources: FishStatus: French overseas territory

UNITED STATES OF AMERICATotal area (sq. miles):3,718,711Total population: 295,734,134Capital city: Washington DCCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: English, SpanishFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, corn and othercereal crops, fruit, vegetables, cottonNatural resources (top 5): Coal, copper, lead,molybdenum, phosphates

Each country-by-country factfile contains: total area of the country in square miles; total population; name of the capital city; the main currencyused in the country; main languages spoken (listed in order of number of speakers); top five farming products produced (listed in order ofimportance to the country’s economy); natural resources (of commercial importance); and a country’s status if it is not independent.

LAND USE: NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICAForest, including treesgrown for timber

Permanent pasture

Permanent crops,such as fruit trees orgrapevines

Arable crops, such aswheat and rice, that arereplanted each year

Other roads, towns,and barren land

25.7%

17.2%

0.4%

12.1%

44.6%

Canada is thecountry with theworld’s longestcoastline—125,567 miles.

The RockyMountains aremade up of 100separate mountainranges.

This map shows the differenthabitats across the continent.

CLIMATE: NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICATEMPERATURES IN JANUARY TEMPERATURES IN JULY

TROPIC OF CANCERTROPIC OF CANCER

CLIMATES KEYHABITATS KEY

NORTH AMERICA FACTFILES

N

E

S

W

Pacif

ic Oc

ean

HABITATS: NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA

SAN ANDREAS FAULTThe San Andreas fault on thePacific coast of California, is746 miles long.The fault is part of the boundarybetween the Pacific and NorthAmerican tectonic plates, and isone of the world’s majorearthquake zones.

• See page 8 THECRACKED PLANET

• See THE GLOSSARY for words and terms used in these FACTFILES. • See page 22 CENTRAL AMERICA FACTFILES

over 90º F

75º to 90º F

60º to 75º F

45º to 60º F

30º to 45º F

15º to 30º F

0º to 15º F

-10º to 0º F

below -10º F

Ice and snowTundraMountains/barren landForestGrasslandSemidesertDesert

The plates at the San Andreasfault slide past each other atabout two inches each year.


GUADELOUPETotal area (sq. miles): 687Total population: 448,713Capital city: Basse-TerreCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, sugar cane, fruit, vegetables,livestockNatural resources: Limited, but beaches and climate good for tourism Status: French overseas territory

GUATEMALATotal area (sq. miles): 42,043Total population: 14,655,189Capital city: GuatemalaCurrency: Quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD)Languages: Spanish; Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, MamFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, corn, bananas, coffee, beansNatural resources (top 5): Oil, nickel, timber, fish, chicle

HAITITotal area (sq. miles): 10,714Total population: 8,121,622Capital city: Port-au-PrinceCurrency: Gourde (HTG)Languages: French; Creole Farming (top 5 products): Coffee, mangos, sugar cane, rice, cornNatural resources (top 5): Bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate,gold, marble

HONDURASTotal area (sq. miles): 43,278Total population: 6,975,204Capital city: TegucigalpaCurrency: Lempira (HNL)Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects Farming (top 5 products): Bananas, coffee, citrus fruits, cattle, timberNatural resources (top 5): Timber, gold, silver, copper, lead

JAMAICATotal area (sq. miles): 4,244Total population: 2,731,832Capital city: KingstonCurrency: Jamaican dollar (JMD)Languages: English, English patoisFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, bananas, coffee,citrus fruits, yamsNatural resources: Bauxite, gypsum, limestone

MARTINIQUETotal area (sq. miles): 425Total population: 432,900Capital city: Fort-de-FranceCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: French, Creole patois Farming (top 5 products): Pineapples, avocados, bananas,cut flowers, vegetablesNatural resources: Limited, but coastline and beachesgood for tourismStatus: French overseas territory

MEXICOTotal area (sq. miles): 761,606Total population: 106,202,903Capital city: Mexico (Distrito Federal)Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)Languages: Spanish, Mayan, NahuatlFarming (top 5 products): Corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beansNatural resources (top 5): Oil, silver, copper, gold, lead

MONTSERRATTotal area (sq. miles): 39Total population: 9,341Capital city: Temporary government buildingsat Brades Estate, Carr’s Bay and Little Bay due to 1997 volcanoCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Cabbages, carrots, cucumbers,tomatoes, onionsNatural resources: Very limited Status: United Kingdom overseas territory

NICARAGUATotal area (sq. miles): 49,998Total population: 5,465,100Capital city: ManaguaCurrency: Gold cordoba (NIO)Languages: SpanishFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, bananas, sugar cane, cotton, riceNatural resources (top 5): Gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead

PANAMATotal area (sq. miles): 30,193Total population: 3,039,150Capital city: PanamaCurrency: Balboa (PAB), US dollar (USD)Languages: Spanish, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugar caneNatural resources: Copper, mahogany forests, shrimps, hydroelectricpower

PUERTO RICOTotal area (sq. miles): 3,515Total population: 3,916,632Capital city: San JuanCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: Spanish, English Farming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, coffee, pineapples,plantains, bananasNatural resources: Copper and nickel (limited amounts), potentialfor onshore and offshore oilStatus: United States of America Commonwealth

ST. KITTS AND NEVISTotal area (sq. miles): 101Total population: 38,958Capital city: BasseterreCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, rice, yams, vegetables,bananasNatural resources: Arable land

ST. LUCIATotal area (sq. miles): 238Total population: 166,312Capital city: CastriesCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: English, French patoisFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, coconuts, vegetables,citrus fruits, root vegetablesNatural resources (top 5): Forests, beaches (for tourism), pumice,mineral springs, potential for geothermal power

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINESTotal area (sq. miles): 150Total population: 117,534Capital city: KingstownCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: English; French patoisFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes,spices, livestockNatural resources: Hydroelectric power

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGOTotal area (sq. miles): 1,980Total population: 1,088,644Capital city: Port-of-SpainCurrency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)Languages: English, Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese Farming (top 5 products): Cocoa, sugar cane, rice, citrus fruits, coffeeNatural resources: Oil, natural gas, asphalt

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 166Total population: 20,556Capital city: Grand TurkCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: English Farming: Corn, beans, cassava, citrus fruitsNatural resources: Fish, spiny lobsters, conch (tropical marine mollusks)Status: United Kingdom overseas territory

VIRGIN ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 136Total population: 108,708Capital city: Charlotte AmalieCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: English, Spanish or Spanish Creole, French or French Creole Farming: Fruit, vegetables, sorghum, cattleNatural resources: Limited, but climate and beaches good for tourismStatus: United States unincorporated territory

Each country-by-country factfile contains: total area of the country in square miles; total population; nameof the capital city; the main currency used in the country; main languages spoken (listed in order ofnumber of speakers); top five farming products produced (listed in order of importance to the country’seconomy); natural resources (of commercial importance; some countries do not have natural resources, suchas oil or minerals, but their coastline and climate attract tourists which are vital to the country’s economy); anda country’s status if it is not independent.

An inviting Virgin Islands’ beach.For many countries, the beautyof the environment is their most

important natural resource.

CENTRAL AMERICA FACTFILES

ANGUILLATotal area (sq. miles): 39 Total population: 13,254Capital city: The ValleyCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: EnglishFarming: Tobacco, vegetables, cattleNatural resources: Salt, fish, lobstersStatus: United Kingdom overseas territory

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDATotal area (sq. miles): 170 Total population: 68,722Capital city: Saint John’s (on Antigua)Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: English, local dialects Farming (top 5 products): Cotton, vegetables, bananas, coconuts,cucumbersNatural resources: Limited, but climate good for tourism

ARUBATotal area (sq. miles): 74.5 Total population: 71,566Capital city: OranjestadCurrency: Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)Languages: Dutch, Papiamento, EnglishFarming: Aloe plants, livestockNatural resources: Fish, white sandy beaches that are good for tourismStatus: Self-governing Netherlands territory

BAHAMAS (THE)Total area (sq. miles): 5382 Total population: 301,790Capital city: NassauCurrency: Bahamian dollar (BSD)Languages: English, CreoleFarming: Citrus fruits, vegetables, poultryNatural resources: Salt, aragonite, timber

BARBADOSTotal area (sq. miles): 166 Total population: 279,254Capital city: BridgetownCurrency: Barbadian dollar (BCD)Languages: EnglishFarming: Sugar cane, vegetables, cottonNatural resources: Oil, fish, natural gas

BELIZETotal area (sq. miles): 8,867 Total population: 279,457Capital city: BelmopanCurrency: Belizean dollar (BZD)Languages: English, Spanish, MayanFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, coca, citrus fruits, sugar cane, fishNatural resources: Timber, fish, hydroelectric power

BERMUDATotal area (sq. miles): 20.5Total population: 63,365Capital city: HamiltonCurrency: Bermudian dollar (BCD)Languages: English, Portuguese Farming (top 5 products): Bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, cut flowers, dairy productsNatural resources: Limestone, climate good for tourism Status: United Kingdom overseas territory

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 59Total population: 22,643Capital city: Road TownCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: English Farming: Fruit, vegetables, livestock, poultryNatural resources: Fish, islands good for tourismStatus: United Kingdom overseas territory

CAYMAN ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 101Total population: 44,270Capital city: George TownCurrency: Caymanian dollar (KYD)Languages: English Farming: Vegetables, fruit, livestock, turtle farmingNatural resources: Fish, climate and beaches good for tourism Status: United Kingdom overseas territory

COSTA RICATotal area (sq. miles): 19,730Total population: 4,016,173Capital city: San JoseCurrency: Costa Rican colon (CRC)Languages: Spanish, English Farming (top 5 products): Coffee, pineapples, bananas,sugar cane, cornNatural resources: Hydroelectric power

CUBATotal area (sq. miles): 42,803Total population: 11,346,670Capital city: HavanaCurrency: Cuban peso (CUP)Languages: Spanish Farming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, tobacco, citrus fruits, coffee, riceNatural resources (top 5): Cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper

DOMINICATotal area (sq. miles): 291Total population: 69,029Capital city: RoseauCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: English, French patois Farming (top 5 products): Bananas, citrus fruits, mangos,root vegetables, coconutsNatural resources: Timber, hydroelectric power

DOMINICAN REPUBLICTotal area (sq. miles): 18,815Total population: 8,950,034Capital city: Santo DomingoCurrency: Dominican peso (DOP)Languages: SpanishFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobaccoNatural resources: Nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

EL SALVADORTotal area (sq. miles): 8,124Total population: 6,704,932Capital city: San SalvadorCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: Spanish, NahuaFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, sugar cane, corn, rice, oilseedNatural resources: Hydroelectric power, geothermal power, oil

GRENADATotal area (sq. miles): 133Total population: 89,502Capital city: Saint George’sCurrency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)Languages: English, French patois Farming (top 5 products): Bananas, cocoa, nutmeg,mace, citrus fruitsNatural resources: Timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors good forshipping

Opened in 1914, the 50-mile-long, man-madePanama Canal allows ships to sail from the

Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Before thecanal was built, ships had to sail all the way

around South America by Cape Horn.


2322


ARGENTINA

URUGUAY

B R A Z I L

PARAGUAY

B O L I V I A

P E R U

ECUADOR

COLOMBIA

VENEZUELAGUYANA FRENCH

GUIANA

PA N A M A

TRINIDAD& TOBAGO

CH

IL

E

Ilhade

Marajó

SouthGeorgia

NetherlandsAntilles

WestFalkland

EastFalkland

L E S S E R A N T I L L E S

FALKLAND/MALVINASISLANDS

SURINAME

Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego

Marajó Bay

São MarcosBay

A T L A N T I C

O C E A N

C A R I B B E A N S E AGulf of

Venezuela

Gulf ofPanama

BlancaBay

Gulf ofSan Jorge

Strait of Magellan

S C O T I AS E A

P A C I F I C

O C E A N

Valdés Peninsula

Fernando de Noronha Island

A T L A N T I C O C E A N

GrandeBay

2524

POLITICAL MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA

The continent of South America

stretches from the warm waters of the

Caribbean Sea in the north to the

stormy, cold waters of Cape Horn in the

south. The world’s longest mountain chain,

the Andes, runs down the western coast, while

the dense, dark Amazon forest, the world’s

largest rainforest, spreads across the north of

the continent.

SOUTH AMERICA

NAME LOCATION HEIGHT (feet) Aconcagua Argentina 22,834*Ojos del Salado Argentina/Chile 22,664Huascaran Peru 22,205 Sajama Bolivia 21,463Chimborazo Ecuador 20,702

* Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America.

NAME RIVER MOUTH LENGTH (miles)Amazon Atlantic Ocean 4,007Parana Atlantic Ocean 2,796Purus Amazon 2,082Madeira Amazon 1,988

NAME LOCATION AREA (sq miles)Lake Titicaca Bolivia/Peru 3,205Lake Poopo Bolivia 1,081

Rainforests around the world areshrinking. They are cut down bythe timber industry or clearedfor mineral mining and farming.

• Just 2.5 acres of Amazonrainforest can contain up to1500 different plant species.Each species of tree maysupport more than 400 differentinsect species.

• 20% of the world’s birds live in the Amazon rainforest.

• 500 years ago, 6 million nativepeople lived in the Amazonrainforest. In 2000, the numberwas less than 250,000.

HIGHEST MOUNTAINS (BY COUNTRY) AMAZON RAINFORESTFACTS

LONGEST RIVERS

LARGEST LAKES

P E O P L EFACTFILE


Highest population:Brazil 186,112,794

Lowest population:Paraguay 6,347,884

Most populous city:Sao Paulo, Brazil18,333,000 residents


Highest infant mortality rate:Bolivia: 53 deaths per 1,000 births

Average annual income per person (in USD):Highest: Uruguay $14,500Lowest: Bolivia $2,600



Largest country:Brazil: 3,286,488 square milesFifth largest country in the world

Smallest country:Netherlands Antilles: 371 square miles

Largest island:Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego18,147 square miles

Largest desert:Atacama Desert, Chile31,000 square milesThere has never been any rainfallrecorded in parts of this desert.

Highest waterfall:Angel Falls, VenezuelaTotal drop: 3,212 feet

• See page 27 SOUTH AMERICA FACTFILES


• See page 10 THE ANDES

• Venezuela is South America’smain producer of oil. Brazil usesthe most oil in South America,2,199,000 barrels each day.

• The Amazon’s source is aremote slope of the NevadoMismi peak (17,440 feethigh), in Peru.

• La Paz in Bolivia is the world’shighest capital city, about12,000 feet above sea level.

• The world’s southernmost townis Ushuaia, a fishing port andnaval base, on the island ofTierra del Feugo, Argentina.

FAST FACTS

SOUTH AMERICA

NORTH AMERICA

ANTARCTICA

TEMPERATURESIN JANUARY

TEMPERATURESIN JULY

THE EQUATOR THE EQUATOR

LAND USE FAST FACT

The Amazon River accounts fortwenty percent of all freshwater

that drains into the world’soceans each year.

CLIMATE: SOUTH AMERICA

over 90º F

75º to 90º F

60º to 75º F

45º to 60º F

30º to 45º F

15º to 30º F

0º to 15º F

-10º to 0º F

below -10º F

KEY

14.2%

5.5%

50.5%

28.7%

1.1%

Ice and snowTundraMountains/barren land

KEY

ForestGrasslandSemidesertDesert

HABITATSThis map shows the different typesof habitats across the continent.

Forest, including treesgrown for timber

Permanent pasture




~

SOUTH AMERICA

The Equator

2726


ARGENTINATotal area (sq. miles): 1,068,302 Total population: 39,537,943Capital city: Buenos AiresCurrency: Argentine peso (ARS)Languages: Spanish, English, Italian,German, French Farming (top 5 products): Sunflower seeds, lemons,soybeans; grapes, cornNatural resources (top 5): Fertile pampas plains, lead, zinc, tin, copper

BOLIVIATotal area (sq. miles): 424,164 Total population: 8,857,870Capital city: La Paz/SucreCurrency: Boliviano (BOB)Languages: Spanish, Quechua, AymaraFarming (top 5 products): Soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, cornNatural resources (top 5): Tin, natural gas, oil, zinc, tungsten

BRAZILTotal area (sq. miles): 3,286,488Total population: 186,112,794Capital city: BrasiliaCurrency: Real (BRL)Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, cornNatural resources (top 5): Bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel

CHILETotal area (sq. miles): 292,260 Total population: 15,980,912Capital city: SantiagoCurrency: Chilean peso (CLP)Languages: Spanish Farming (top 5 products): Fruit, onions, wheat, corn, oatsNatural resources (top 5): Copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates,precious metals

COLOMBIATotal area (sq. miles): 439,736 Total population: 42,954,279Capital city: BogotaCurrency: Colombian peso (COP)Languages: Spanish Farming (top 5 products): Coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobaccoNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel

ECUADORTotal area (sq. miles): 109,483Total population: 13,363,593Capital city: QuitoCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: Spanish, QuechuaFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoesNatural resources: Oil, fish, timber, hydroelectric power

FRENCH GUIANATotal area (sq. miles): 35,135Total population: 195,506Capital city: CayenneCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: French Farming (top 5 products): Corn, rice, manioc (tapioca),sugar cane, cocoaNatural resources (top 5): Bauxite, timber, gold, oil,kaolinStatus: French overseas territory

GUYANATotal area (sq. miles): 83,000 Total population: 765,283Capital city: GeorgetownCurrency: Guyanese dollar (GYD)Languages: English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, HindiFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, rice, wheat,vegetable oils, livestockNatural resources (top 5): Bauxite, gold, diamonds,timber, shrimp

NETHERLANDS ANTILLESTotal area (sq. miles): 371 Total population: 219,958Capital city: WillestadCurrency: Netherlands Antilleanguilder (ANG)Languages: Papiamento, English, DutchFarming (top 5 products): Aloe plants, sorghum, peanuts,vegetables, tropical fruitNatural resources: Phosphates (on Curacao island),salt (on Bonaire island)Status: Self-governing Netherlands territory

PARAGUAYTotal area (sq. miles): 157,047 Total population: 6,347,884Capital city: AsuncionCurrency: Guarani (PYG)Languages: Spanish, Guarani Farming (top 5 products): Cotton, sugar cane, soybeans, corn, wheatNatural resources (top 5): Hydroelectric power, timber, iron ore,manganese, limestone

PERUTotal area (sq. miles): 496,226Total population: 27,925,628Capital city: LimaCurrency: Nuevo sol (PEN)Languages: Spanish; Quechua; Aymara Farming (top 5 products): Coffee, cotton, sugar cane, rice, potatoesNatural resources (top 5): Copper, silver, gold, oil, timber

SURINAMETotal area (sq. miles): 63,039 Total population: 438,144Capital city: ParamariboCurrency: Suriname guilder (SRG)Languages: Dutch, English, Sranang Tongo (Creole language sometimescalled Taki-Taki)Farming (top 5 products): Rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts,plantainsNatural resources (top 5): Timber, hydroelectric power, fish, kaolin,shrimp

URUGUAYTotal area (sq. miles): 68,038Total population: 3,415,920Capital city: MontevideoCurrency: Uruguayan peso (UYU)Languages: SpanishFarming (top 5 products): Rice, wheat, corn, barley, livestockNatural resources: Hydroelectric power, minerals, fish

VENEZUELATotal area (sq. miles): 352,144Total population: 25,375,281Capital city: CaracasCurrency: Bolivar (VEB)Languages: Spanish, numerous indigenous dialects Farming (top 5 products): Corn, sorghum, sugar cane, rice, bananasNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite

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Llamas are members of the camel family andare native to South America. They have lived

in the Andes for centuries, both as wildanimals and in domesticated herds. Today,they still work as pack animals carrying

goods through inaccessible mountain passes.


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SOUTH AMERICA FACTFILES

The amount of oil produced,bought and sold, and used in theworld is measured in barrels. A barrel is equivalent to 42 gallons.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer ofoil—2,356,000 barrels per day


Egypt 562,000 barrelsSouth Africa 460,000 barrelsNigeria 275,000 barrelsLibya 216,000 barrelsAlgeria 209,000 barrels

28

Africa is the second largest continent in

the world. The world’s biggest desert,

the Sahara, dominates the landscape of

the north, while in the south forests and vast

grasslands are home to wild animals, such as

leopards, lions, and elephants. The Great Rift

Valley, one of the Earth’s major geological

features, runs from the Red Sea down to

Mozambique. This huge crack in the Earth’s

surface, caused by a series of faults, is made up of

mountains, volcanoes, deep valleys, and lakes.

NAME LOCATION HEIGHT (feet) Mt. Kilimanjaro Tanzania 19,341Mt. Kirinyaga (Mt. Kenya) Kenya 17,060Mount Stanley (Margherita Peak) Dem. Rep. Congo/Uganda 16,765Ras Dashen Ethiopia 15,157

NAME RIVER MOUTH LENGTH (miles)Nile Mediterranean 4,144Congo Atlantic Ocean 2,900Niger Atlantic Ocean 2,597Zambezi Indian Ocean 2,200

NAME AREA (sq miles)Madagascar Indian Ocean 226,657Réunion Indian Ocean 972

• Almost 90% of the rainforest inWest Africa has been destroyed.

• 90% of the rainforest on theAfrican island of Madagascarhas been destroyed. Around80% of the animal speciesfound on Madagascar live onlyon this island and nowhere elseon Earth (other than zoopopulations).

• Namibia was the first country inthe world to include protectingthe environment in itsconstitution. Around 14% ofNamibia is now protectedincluding the entire NamibDesert coast.

• Ancient rock paintings showthat 8,000 years ago theSahara Desert was a lush, greenplace that was home to manywild animals.

• It is believed that the first placein the world to cultivate coffeewas Ethiopia. It was grown inthe Kefa region of Ethiopiaaround 1000 years ago.


LONGEST RIVERS

LARGEST ISLANDS

OIL CONSUMPTION

P E O P L EFACTFILE


Highest population:Nigeria 128,771,988

Lowest population:Djibouti 476,703

Most populous city:Cairo, Egypt11,146,000 residents


Highest infant mortality rate:Angola: 191 deaths per 1,000births – the highest in the world

Average annual income per person (in USD):Highest: Mauritius $12,800Lowest: Sierra Leone $600



Largest country:Sudan: 967,499 square miles

Smallest country:Mayotte: 144 square miles

Largest lake:Lake Victoria, East Africa26,641 square miles

Largest desert:Sahara Desert, North Africa3.5 million square milesLargest desert in the world

Highest waterfall:Tugela Falls, South AfricaTotal drop: 3,110 feet

• See page 33AFRICA FACTFILES

An African leopard in theSamburu Game Reserve, Kenya.

• See page 24AMAZON RAINFOREST FACTS


Madeira

Canary Is.

COMOROSMayotte

Réunion

SEYCHELLES

Mauritius

I N D I A NO C E A N


SAO TOME & PRINCIPE

REDSEA

MADAGASCAR

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29

Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro is an extinct volcano. It is the highestmountain in the world that it is possible to scale without specialclimbing skills or equipment. Around 22,000 people climb Kilimanjaroevery year, making it the world’s most climbed mountain.

AFRICA

EUROPE

The Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Cancer

POLITICAL MAP OF AFRICA

MOUNT KILIMANJARO

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Due to rainforestdestruction, many

Madagascan animals,such as this ring-tailedlemur, are endangered.

AFRICAAFRICA

• See the GLOSSARY for definitions of LIFE

EXPECTANCY and INFANTMORTALITY RATE.

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PHYSICAL MAP OF EUROPE

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HABITATS AND PROTECTING AFRICA’S WILDLIFE

The baobab tree grows in semi-arid places in sub-Saharan Africa.

• The tree can grow to 80 feet tallwith a diameter around the trunkof over 30 feet. It is believed thatbaobabs can live for 1,000 years.

• Arabian legend says the devilplucked the baobab tree from theground, then plunged it back in,upside down.

LAND USE

0.9%

CLIMATE: AFRICATEMPERATURES IN JANUARY

THE EQUATOR

THE EQUATOR

There are fewer than 700mountain gorillas left in theworld.

The biggest threat the mountaingorillas face is the loss of theirhabitat as the human population in the region expands. People need to cut down the forest to grow crops.

One way to save the gorillas and their rainforest habitat is toencourage “gorilla tourists,”people who visit Africa and pay towatch gorilla families in the wild.

Today, many African animals live inprotected parks. The parks createincome for poor local communities,and encourage governments toprotect rare animals.


KEY


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TEMPERATURES IN JULY

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Permanent pasture




Mountain gorillas live in justtwo small areas of protectedrainforest in Africa.

Uganda

RwandaDem Rep

Congo

This map shows the differenttypes of habitats across

the continent.

ALGERIATotal area (sq. miles): 919,595Total population: 32,531,853Capital city: AlgiersCurrency: Algerian dinar (DZD)Languages: Arabic, French, Berber dialectsFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olivesNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,uranium

ANGOLATotal area (sq. miles): 481,354Total population: 11,190,786Capital city: LuandaCurrency: Kwanza (AOA)Languages: Portuguese, BantuFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, sugar cane, coffee, sisal, cornNatural resources (top 5): Oil, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper

BENINTotal area (sq. miles): 43,483Total population: 7,460,025Capital city: Porto-Novo/CotonouCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)Languages: French; Fon, YorubaFarming (top 5 products): Cotton, corn, cassava, yams, beansNatural resources: Oil, limestone, marble, timber

BOTSWANA Total area (sq. miles): 231,804Total population: 1,640,115Capital city: GaboroneCurrency: Pula (BWP)Languages: Setswana, KalangaFarming (top 5 products): Livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beansNatural resources (top 5): Diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, coal

BURKINA FASO Total area (sq. miles): 105,869Total population: 13,925,313Capital city: OuagadougouCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)Languages: Moore, Jula, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame,sorghumNatural resources (top 5): Manganese, limestone, marble, gold, pumice

BURUNDITotal area (sq. miles): 10,745Total population: 6,370,609Capital city: BujumburaCurrency: Burundi franc (BIF)Languages: Kirundi, French, SwahiliFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghumNatural resources (top 5): Nickel, uranium, peat, cobalt, copper

CAMEROONTotal area (sq. miles): 183,568Total population: 16,380,005Capital city: YaoundeCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF)Languages: English, French, 24 African languagesFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananasNatural resources (top 5): Oil, bauxite, iron ore, timber,hydroelectric power

CAPE VERDETotal area (sq. miles): 1,557Total population: 418,224Capital city: PraiaCurrency: Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)Languages: Portuguese; CriouloFarming (top 5 products): Bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes,sugar caneNatural resources (top 5): Salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish

CENTRAL AFRICANREPUBLICTotal area (sq. miles): 240,535Total population: 3,799,897Capital city: BanguiCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF)Languages: French; SanghoFarming (top 5 products): Cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc, yamsNatural resources (top 5): Diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

CHADTotal area (sq. miles): 495,755Total population: 9,826,419Capital city: N’DjamenaCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF)Languages: French; Arabic, Sara, 120 different languages and dialectsFarming (top 5 products): Cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, riceNatural resources (top 5): Oil, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish

COMOROSTotal area (sq. miles): 838Total population: 671,247Capital city: MoroniCurrency: Comoran franc (KMF)Languages: Arabic, French, ShikomoroFarming (top 5 products): Vanilla, cloves, perfume essences,copra, coconutsNatural resources: Limited natural resources

CONGO (DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC OF)Total area (sq. miles): 905,568Total population: 60,085,804Capital city: KinshasaCurrency: Congolese franc (CDF)

Languages: French, Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, TshilubaFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, sugar cane, palm oil, rubber, teaNatural resources (top 5): Cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, oil

CONGO (REPUBLIC OF)Total area (sq. miles): 132,047Total population: 3,039,126Capital city: BrazzavilleCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF)Languages: French, Lingala, MonokutubaFarming (top 5 products): Cassava, sugar cane, rice, corn, peanutsNatural resources (top 5): Oil, timber, potash, lead, zinc

COTE D’IVOIRE(IVORY COAST)Total area (sq. miles): 124,503Total population: 17,298,040Capital city: Yamoussoukro/AbidjanCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)Languages: French, Dioula, and 60 indigenous dialectsFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, cocoa, bananas,palm kernels, cornNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, diamonds, manganese,iron ore

DJIBOUTITotal area (sq. miles): 8880Total population: 476,703Capital city: DjiboutiCurrency: Bolivar (VEB)Languages: French; Arabic, Somali, AfarFarming: Fruits, vegetables, livestock (including camels)Natural resources (top 5): Geothermal energy, gold; clay, granite,limestone


AFRICA FACTFILES


An elephant in the Ngorongoro Crater inTanzania. The Crater is part of Africa’s

Great Rift Valley.

THE AFRICAN BAOBAB TREE

AFRICA

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MOZAMBIQUETotal area (sq. miles): 309,496Total population: 19,406,703Capital city: MaputoCurrency: Metical (MZM)Languages: Emakhuwa, Xichangana, PortugueseFarming (top 5 products): Cotton, cashew nuts,sugar cane, tea, cassavaNatural resources (top 5): Coal, titanium, natural gas, hydroelectricpower, tantalum

NAMIBIATotal area (sq. miles): 318,696Total population: 2,030,692Capital city: WindhoekCurrency: Namibian dollar (NAD), South African rand (ZAR)Languages: English, Afrikaans, German, indigenous languages Farming: Millet, sorghum, peanuts, livestockNatural resources (top 5): Diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead

NIGERTotal area (sq. miles): 489,191Total population: 11,665,937Capital city: NiameyCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)Languages: French, Hausa, DjermaFarming (top 5 products): Peas (for cattle feed), cotton, peanuts,millet, sorghumNatural resources (top 5): Uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates

NIGERIATotal area (sq. miles): 356,669Total population: 128,771,988Capital city: AbujaCurrency: Naira (NGN)Languages: Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, English, FulaniFarming (top 5 products): Cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, riceNatural resources (top 5): Natural gas, oil, tin, iron ore, coal

REUNIONTotal area (sq. miles): 972Total population: 776,948Capital city: Saint-DenisCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: French, CreoleFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, vanilla, tobacco,tropical fruits, vegetablesNatural resources: Fish, hydroelectric powerStatus: French overseas territory

RWANDA Total area (sq. miles): 10,169Total population: 8,440,820Capital city: KigaliCurrency: Rwandan franc (RWF)Languages: Kinyarwanda, French, English, KiswahiliFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, tea, pyrethrum, bananas, beansNatural resources (top 5): Gold, tin ore, tungsten ore, methane;hydroelectric power

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPETotal area (sq. miles): 386Total population: 187,410Capital city: Sao TomeCurrency: Dobra (STD)Languages: PortugueseFarming (top 5 products): Cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra,cinnamonNatural resources: Fish, hydroelectric power

SENEGALTotal area (sq. miles): 75,749Total population: 11,126,832Capital city: DakarCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)Languages: Wolof, French, Pulaar, Jola, MandinkaFarming (top 5 products): Peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, riceNatural resources: Fish, phosphates, iron ore

SEYCHELLESTotal area (sq. miles): 176Total population: 81,188Capital city: VictoriaCurrency: Seychelles rupee (SCR)Languages: Creole, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla,sweet potatoes, cassavaNatural resources: Fish, copra, cinnamon trees

SIERRA LEONE Total area (sq. miles): 27,699Total population: 6,017,643Capital city: FreetownCurrency: Leone (SLL)Languages: Mende, Temne, Krio, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oilNatural resources (top 5): Diamonds, titanium, bauxite, iron ore, gold

SOMALIATotal area (sq. miles): 246,201Total population: 8,591,629Capital city: MogadishuCurrency: Somali shilling (SOS)Languages: Somali, Arabic, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Livestock, bananas, sorghum, corn, coconutsNatural resources: Uranium; unexploited resources, including iron ore,tin, gypsum, bauxite, and copper

SOUTH AFRICATotal area (sq. miles): 471,000Total population: 44,344,136Capital city: PretoriaCurrency: Rand (ZAR)Languages: IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, cotton, sugar cane, rice, potatoesNatural resources (top 5): Gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore

SUDANTotal area (sq. miles): 967,499Total population: 40,187,486Capital city: KhartoumCurrency: Sudanese dinar (SDD)Languages: Arabic, English Farming (top 5 products): Cotton, groundnuts, sorghum, millet, wheatNatural resources (top 5): Oil, small reserves of iron ore, copper,chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, and gold

SWAZILAND Total area (sq. miles): 6,704Total population: 1,173,900Capital city: Mbabane/LobambaCurrency: Lilangeni (SZL)Languages: English, siSwatiFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, cotton, corn, tobacco, riceNatural resources (top 5): Asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite,hydroelectric power

TANZANIA Total area (sq. miles): 364,900Total population: 36,766,356Capital city: Dar es Salaam/DodomaCurrency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS)Languages: Swahili, Kiunguja, English, ArabicFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrumNatural resources (top 5): Hydro-electric power, tin, phosphates,iron ore, coal

TOGOTotal area (sq. miles): 21,925Total population: 5,681,519Capital city: LomeCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)Languages: Mina, Ewe, Kabye, Dagomba, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassavaNatural resources: Phosphates, limestone, marble

TUNISIATotal area (sq. miles): 63,170Total population: 10,074,951Capital city: TunisCurrency: Tunisian dinar (TND)Languages: Arabic, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Olives, olive oil, grain,dairy products, tomatoesNatural resources (top 5): Oil, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc

UGANDATotal area (sq. miles): 91,136Total population: 27,269,482 Capital city: KampalaCurrency: Ugandan shilling (UGX)Languages: Luganda, English, SwahiliFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassavaNatural resources (top 5): Copper, cobalt, hydroelectric power,limestone, salt

ZAMBIATotal area (sq. miles): 290,586Total population: 11,261,795Capital city: LusakaCurrency: Zambian kwacha (ZMK)Languages: Bemba, Tonga, Nyanja, around 70 indigenous languages,EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Corn, sorghum, rice,peanuts, sunflower seedsNatural resources (top 5): Copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal

ZIMBABWETotal area (sq. miles): 150,804Total population: 12,746,990Capital city: HarareCurrency: Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD)Languages: Shona, Ndebele, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffeeNatural resources (top 5): Coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel

EGYPTTotal area (sq. miles): 386,662Total population: 77,505,756Capital city: CairoCurrency: Egyptian pound (EGP)Languages: Arabic, English, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beansNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,manganese

EQUATORIAL GUINEA Total area (sq. miles): 10,831Total population: 535,881Capital city: MalaboCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF)Languages: Spanish, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassavaNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite

ERITREATotal area (sq. miles): 48,842Total population: 4,561,599Capital city: AsmaraCurrency: Nafka (ERN)Languages: Afar, Arabic, Tigre, Kuname, TigrinyaFarming (top 5 products): Sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cottonNatural resources (top 5): Gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt

ETHIOPIATotal area (sq. miles): 435,186Total population: 75,053,286Capital city: Addis AbabaCurrency: Birr (ETB)Languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, ArabicFarming (top 5 products): Cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugar caneNatural resources (top 5): Gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas

GABONTotal area (sq. miles): 103,347Total population: 1,389,201Capital city: LibrevilleCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF)Languages: French, Fang, Myene, NzebiFarming (top 5 products): Cocoa, coffee, sugar cane, palm oil, rubberNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese

GAMBIA (THE)Total area (sq. miles): 4,363Total population: 1,593,256Capital city: BanjulCurrency: Dalasi (GMD)Languages: English, Mandinka, WolofFarming (top 5 products): Rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, cornNatural resources (top 5): Fish, titanium, tin, zircon, silica sand

GHANATotal area (sq. miles): 92,456Total population: 21,029,853Capital city: AccraCurrency: Cedi (GHC)Languages: Twi, Fante, Ga, Hausa, Dagbani, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava, peanutsNatural resources (top 5): Gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite,manganese

GUINEATotal area (sq. miles): 94,926Total population: 9,467,866Capital city: ConakryCurrency: Guinean franc (GNF)Languages: FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Rice, coffee, pineapples,palm kernels, cassavaNatural resources (top 5): Bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium

GUINEA-BISSAUTotal area (sq. miles): 13,946Total population: 1,416,027Capital city: BissauCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)Languages: Crioulo, Balante, Pulaar, Mandjak, Mandinka, PortugueseFarming (top 5 products): Rice, corn, beans, cassava, cashew nutsNatural resources (top 5): Fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay

KENYA Total area (sq. miles): 224,962Total population: 33,829,590Capital city: NairobiCurrency: Kenyan shilling (KES)Languages: Swahili, English, BantuFarming (top 5 products): Tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugar caneNatural resources (top 5): Limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar

LESOTHOTotal area (sq. miles): 11,720Total population: 1,867,035Capital city: MaseruCurrency: Loti (LSL), South African rand (ZAR)Languages: Sesotho, English, Zulu, XhosaFarming (top 5 products): Corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barleyNatural resources: Diamonds, sand, clay, building stone

LIBERIATotal area (sq. miles): 43,000Total population: 3,482,211Capital city: MonroviaCurrency: Liberian dollar (LRD)Languages: Kpelle, English, BassaFarming (top 5 products): Rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassavaNatural resources (top 5): Iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydroelectric power

LIBYA Total area (sq. miles): 679,362Total population: 5,599,053Capital city: TripoliCurrency: Libyan dinar (LYD)Languages: Arabic, Italian, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus fruitsNatural resources: Oil, natural gas, gypsum

MADAGASCARTotal area (sq. miles): 226,657Total population: 18,040,341Capital city: AntananarivoCurrency: Malagasy franc (MGF)Languages: French, MalagasyFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, vanilla, sugar cane, cloves, cocoaNatural resources (top 5): Graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt

MALAWI Total area (sq. miles): 45,745Total population: 12,158,924Capital city: LilongweCurrency: Malawian Kwacha (MWK)Languages: Chichewa, Chinyanja, Chiyao, ChitumbukaFarming (top 5 products): Tobacco, sugar cane, cotton, tea, cornNatural resources: Limestone, hydroelectric power

MALITotal area (sq. miles): 478,767Total population: 12,291,529Capital city: BamakoCurrency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)Languages: Bambara, Fulani, Songhai, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetablesNatural resources (top 5): Gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone

MAURITANIA Total area (sq. miles): 937,955Total population: 3,086,859Capital city: NouakchottCurrency: Ouguiya (MRO)Languages: Arabic, Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, WolofFarming (top 5 products): Dates, millet, sorghum, rice, cornNatural resources (top 5): Iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate,diamonds

MAURITIUSTotal area (sq. miles): 788Total population: 1,230,602Capital city: Port LouisCurrency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)Languages: Creole, Bhojpuri, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananasNatural resources: Fish

MAYOTTE Total area (sq. miles): 144Total population: 193,633Capital city: MamoutzouCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: Mahorian, FrenchFarming: Vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copraNatural resources: Limited natural resourcesStatus: French overseas territory

MOROCCOTotal area (sq. miles): 172,414Total population: 32,725,847Capital city: RabatCurrency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)Languages: Arabic, Berber dialects, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Barley, wheat, citrus fruits,grapes for wine, vegetablesNatural resources (top 5): Phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead; zinc

• See the GLOSSARY for words and termsused in these FACTFILES.

• See the GLOSSARY for words and termsused in these FACTFILES.

AFRICA FactfilesAFRICA

3736

POLITICAL MAP OF EUROPE

Eurasia is one giant landmass, comprising

the continents of Europe and Asia. The

vast Russian Federation’s capital,

Moscow, is in Europe, but the country spreads for

thousands of miles across northern Asia. The

landscapes of Europe vary from frozen regions in

the Arctic Circle to hot countries that border the

Mediterranean Sea. There are few remaining

wilderness areas in Europe, and the continent is

crossed by railways and roads joining large towns

and cities.

EUROPE

NAME LOCATION HEIGHT (feet)Elbrus Russia 18,510*Mont Blanc France/Italy 15,774Monte Rosa Italy/Switzerland 15,203Matterhorn Italy 14,692

* Elbrus is the highest mountain in Europe.

NAME RIVER MOUTH LENGTH (miles) Volga Caspian Sea 2,299Danube Black Sea 1,771Ural Caspian Sea 1,575Dnieper Black Sea 1,420

NAME AREA (sq miles)Great Britain (mainland) North Sea/Altlantic Ocean 88,757Iceland Atlantic Ocean 39,769Ireland Atlantic Ocean 27,135

• Vatican City is the smallestcountry in the world. It coversan area of just 109 acres in thecentre of Rome. Vatican City isthe headquarters of the RomanCatholic Church.

• Large parts of the Netherlandswere once part of the NorthSea. Long embankments, calleddykes, have been built to holdback the ocean and parts of thecoast have been reclaimed andpumped dry. These areas arecalled polders.

• The city of Venice, Italy is madeup of 117 small islands of landthat were built hundreds ofyears ago on salt marshes. Theislands are joined to each otherby 409 bridges. There are 150seawater canals runningbetween the islands. Workers,residents, and visitors travelaround the city by boat.

• The coast of the United Kingdomhas so many indents that nopoint in the UK is more than 70miles from the sea.

HIGHEST MOUNTAINS (BY COUNTRY) FAST FACTS

LONGEST RIVERS

LARGEST ISLANDS

P E O P L EFACTFILE

Total population:800,000,000 (includes totalpopulation of the RussianFederation)

Highest population:Russian Federation 143,420,309

Lowest population:Vatican City 921

Most populous city:Moscow, Russia10,672,000 residents


Highest infant mortality rate:Turkey: 41 deaths per 1,000 births

Average annual income per person (in USD):Highest: Luxembourg $58,900Lowest: Moldova $1,900


Total land area:3,843,000 square miles(including European Russia)

Largest country in Europe:European Russia: 1,658,068 square milesRussia spans the continents ofEurope and Asia with its total areadivided between both.

Smallest country:Vatican City: 0.17 square miles

There are no deserts in Europe

Largest lake:Lake Baykal, Russia11,969 square miles

Highest waterfall:Utigard, NorwayTotal drop: 2,625 feet EU

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• See page 44 SIBERIA.• See page 41

EUROPE FACTFILES


The amount of oil produced,bought and sold, and used in theworld is measured in barrels. Abarrel is equivalent to 42 gallons.

Russia is Europe’s largest producerof oil—8,420,000 barrels per day


Germany 2,891,000 barrelsRussia 2,310,000 barrelsFrance 2,026,000 barrelsItaly 1,866,000 barrelsUK 1,692,000 barrels

The giant Rock of Gibraltartowers over the Strait of

Gibraltar that links the AtlanticOcean and the Mediterranean

Sea. The rock is 1,398 feet high.

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 221 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

PHYSICAL MAP OF EUROPEPHYSICAL MAP OF EUROPE

EUROPE

ALBANIATotal area (sq. miles): 11,100Total population: 3,563,112Capital city: TiranaCurrency: Lek (ALL)Languages: Albanian, Greek, Vlach Farming (top 5 products): Wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite

ANDORRATotal area (sq. miles): 181Total population: 70,549Capital city: Andorra la VellaCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: Catalan, French, Castilian, Portuguese Farming (top 5 products): Rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetablesNatural resources (top 5): Hydroelectric power, mineral water, timber,iron ore, lead

AUSTRIATotal area (sq. miles): 32,382Total population: 8,184,691Capital city: ViennaCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: German, Slovene,Croatian, Hungarian Farming (top 5 products): Cereal crops, potatoes,sugar beets, grapes for wine, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore

BELARUSTotal area (sq. miles): 80,155Total population: 10,300,483Capital city: MinskCurrency: Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)Languages: Belarusian, Russian Farming (top 5 products): Cereal crops, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flaxNatural resources (top 5): Timber; peat; small quantities oil and naturalgas; granite; limestone

BELGIUMTotal area (sq, miles): 11,787Total population: 10,364,388Capital city: BrusselsCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: Dutch, French, GermanFarming (top 5 products): Sugar beets,vegetables, fruits, cereal crops, tobaccoNatural resources: Construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

BOSNIA–HERZEGOVINATotal area (sq miles): 19,741Total population: 4,025,476Capital city: SarajevoCurrency: Marka (BAM)Languages: Bosnian; Croatian; Serbian Farming (top 5 products): Wheat; corn; fruits; vegetables; livestockNatural resources (top 5): Coal; iron ore; bauxite; copper; lead

BULGARIATotal area (sq. miles): 42,823Total population: 7,450,349Capital city: SofiaCurrency: Lev (BGL)Languages: Bulgarian, Turkish, RomaFarming (top 5 products): Vegetables, fruits, tobacco,livestock, grapes for wineNatural resources (top 5): Bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal

CROATIATotal area (sq. miles): 21,831Total population: 4,495,904Capital city: ZagrebCurrency: Kuna (HRK)Languages: Croatian, SerbianFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, corn, sugar beets,sunflower seeds, barleyNatural resources (top 5): Oil, coal, bauxite, iron ore, calcium

CYPRUSTotal area (sq. miles): 3,571Total population: 780,133Capital city: NicosiaCurrency: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish lira (TRL)Languages: Greek, Turkish, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Citrus fruits,vegetables, barley, grapes, olivesNatural resources (top 5): Copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber

CZECH REPUBLICTotal area (sq. miles): 30,450Total population: 10,241,138Capital city: PragueCurrency: Czech koruna (CZK)Languages: CzechFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, potatoes,sugar beets, hops, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber

DENMARKTotal area (sq miles): 16,639Total population: 5,432,335Capital city: CopenhagenCurrency: Danish krone (DKK)Languages: Danish; Faroese;Greenlandic; German Farming (top 5 products): Barley; wheat; potatoes; sugar beets; pigsNatural resources (top 5): Oil; natural gas; fish; salt; limestone

ESTONIATotal area (sq. miles): 17,462Total population: 1,332,893Capital city: TallinnCurrency: Estonian kroon (EEK)Languages: Estonian, RussianFarming: Potatoes, vegetables,livestock, dairy productsNatural resources (top 5): Oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone

FAROE ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 540Total population: 49,962Capital city: CaracasCurrency: Danish krone (DKK)Languages: Faroese, DanishFarming (top 5 products): Milk, potatoes, vegetables, sheep, salmonNatural resources: Fish, whales, hydroelectric powerStatus: Self-governing Danish territory

FINLANDTotal area (sq. miles): 130,559Total population: 5,223,442Capital city: HelsinkiCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: Finnish, SwedishFarming (top 5 products): Barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, cattleNatural resources (top 5): Timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc

FRANCETotal area (sq. miles): 211,209Total population: 60,656,178Capital city: ParisCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: French Farming (top 5 products): Wheat, cereal crops,sugar beets, potatoes, grapes for wineNatural resources (top 5): Coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium

41

EUROPE FACTFILESEach country-by-country factfile contains: total area of the country in square miles; total population; name of the capital city; the main currencyused in the country; main languages spoken (listed in order of number of speakers); top five farming products produced (listed in order ofimportance to the country’s economy); natural resources (of commercial importance); and a country’s status if it is not independent.


40

ARCTICCIR

CLE

ARCTICCIR

CLE

Belgium 1957France 1957Germany 1957Italy 1957Luxembourg 1957The Netherlands 1957Denmark 1973Ireland 1973United Kingdom 1973

Greece 1981Spain 1986Portugal 1986Austria 1995Finland 1995Sweden 1995Estonia 2004Latvia 2004Lithuania 2004

Poland 2004Czech Republic 2004Slovakia 2004Hungary 2004Slovenia 2004Malta 2004Cyprus 2004

The European Union (EU) is an organization set up to allowEuropean countries to supporteach other.WHAT DOES THE EU DO?The EU has set up laws that helpmember countries trade easily, allowEU workers to work in any other EUcountry without permits or visas, andprotect EU workers.

THE EECThe organization began in 1957. SixEuropean countries formed the European

Economic Community (EEC) with the aim of abolishing tariffs and tradingrestrictions between members. Thecountries were Belgium, France, Germany,Italy, Luxembourg ,and the Netherlands.

THE EUMore European countries joined thegroup and in 1992, the organizationbecame the EU. Member statesagreed to work together in manyareas including defence, foreignpolicy, and social policies.

Today, 25 European countries aremembers of the European Union.

Total population of 25 EU member states:457,000,000Total area of EU zone:1,535,286 square milesThe Euro was launched as a unit ofexchange throughout the EuropeanUnion on January 1, 1999. The euro is used as currency by 12 EUcountries: Austria, Belgium, Finland,France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands,Portugal, and Spain.

EU FLAG AND THE EURO

The European Union flag has12 stars for the 12 countries

that were members whenthe EU was named in 1992.

The 25 EU member states and the year they joined the Union:

• EU member countrieshave an EU FLAG in the

EUROPE FACTFILES which begin on page 41.

HABITATS

CLIMATE: EUROPE

LAND USE

0.7%


KEY


over 90º F

75º to 90º F

60º to 75º F

45º to 60º F

30º to 45º F

15º to 30º F

0º to 15º F

-10º to 0º F

below -10º F

KEYTEMPERATURES IN JULYTEMPERATURES IN JANUARY

THE EUROPEAN UNION

46%

8%

12.8%

32.5%


Permanent pasture



Other roads, townsand barren land

This map shows the differenttypes of habitats across the continent.

EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERS

EUROPE EUROPE

GERMANYTotal area (sq. miles): 137,847Total population: 82,431,390Capital city: BerlinCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: GermanFarming (top 5 products): Potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper

GIBRALTARTotal area (sq. miles): 2.5Total population: 27,884Capital city: GibraltarCurrency: Gibraltar pound (GIP)Languages: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese Farming: No farmingNatural resources: No natural resourcesStatus: United Kingdom overseas territory

GREECETotal area (sq. miles): 50,942Total population: 10,668,354Capital city: AthensCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: GreekFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, corn,barley, sugar beets, olivesNatural resources (top 5): Lignite, oil, iron ore, bauxite, lead

GUERNSEYTotal area (sq. miles): 30Total population: 65,228Capital city: Saint Peter PortCurrency: British pound (GBP)Languages: English, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Tomatoes, cut flowers, sweet peppers,aubergines, fruitNatural resources: Arable landStatus: United Kingdom Crown Dependency

HUNGARYTotal area (sq. miles): 35,919Total population: 10,006,835Capital city: BudapestCurrency: Forint (HUF)Languages: Hungarian Farming (top 5 products): Wheat, corn,sunflower seeds, potatoes, sugar beetsNatural resources: Bauxite, coal, natural gas

ICELANDTotal area (sq. miles): 39,769Total population: 296,737Capital city: ReykjavikCurrency: Icelandic krona (ISK)Languages: Icelandic, EnglishFarming: Potatoes, vegetables, sheep, dairy productsNatural resources: Fish, hydroelectric power,geothermal power

IRELANDTotal area (sq. miles): 27,135Total population: 4,015,676Capital city: DublinCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: English, Irish (Gaelic/Gaeilge)Farming (top 5 products): Turnips, barley,potatoes, sugar beets, wheatNatural resources (top 5): Natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc

ISLE OF MANTotal area (sq. miles): 221Total population: 75,049Capital city: DouglasCurrency: British pound (GBP)Languages: English, Manx Gaelic Farming: Cereal crops, vegetables, livestock, poultryNatural resources: No natural resourcesStatus: United Kingdom Crown Dependency

ITALYTotal area (sq. miles): 116,306Total population: 58,103,033Capital city: RomeCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: ItalianFarming (top 5 products): Fruit, vegetables,grapes for wine, potatoes, sugar beetsNatural resources (top 5): Coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble

JERSEYTotal area (sq. miles): 45Total population: 90,812Capital city: Saint HelierCurrency: British pound (GBP)Languages: EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Potatoes, cauliflower,tomatoes, cattle, dairy productsNatural resources: Arable landStatus: United Kingdom Crown Dependency

LATVIATotal area (sq. miles): 24,938Total population: 2,290,237Capital city: RigaCurrency: Latvian lat (LVL)Languages: Latvian, RussianFarming (top 5 products): Cereal crops,sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables, livestockNatural resources (top 5): Peat, limestone, dolomite, amber,hydroelectric power

LIECHTENSTEINTotal area (sq. miles): 62Total population: 33,717Capital city: VaduzCurrency: Swiss franc (CHF)Languages: German Farming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, livestockNatural resources: hydroelectric power potential, arable land

LITHUANIATotal area (sq. miles): 25,174Total population: 3,596,617Capital city: VilniusCurrency: Litas (LTL)Languages: Lithuanian, RussianFarming (top 5 products): Cereal crops,potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetablesNatural resources: Peat, arable land

LUXEMBOURGTotal area (sq. miles): 998Total population: 468,571Capital city: LuxembourgCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: Luxembourgish, German, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Barley, oats,potatoes, wheat, fruitNatural resources: Arable land

MACEDONIATotal area (sq. miles): 9781Total population: 2,045,262Capital city: SkopjeCurrency: Macedonian denar (MKD)Languages: Macedonian, Albanian Farming (top 5 products): Wheat, grapes, rice, tobacco, cornNatural resources (top 5): Iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite

MALTATotal area (sq. miles): 122Total population: 398,534Capital city: VallettaCurrency: Maltese lira (MTL)Languages: Maltese, English Farming (top 5 products): Potatoes,cauliflowers, grapes, wheat, barleyNatural resources: Limestone, salt, arable land

MOLDOVATotal area (sq. miles): 13,067Total population: 4,455,421Capital city: ChisinauCurrency: Moldovan leu (MDL)Languages: Moldovan, Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect) Farming (top 5 products): Vegetables, fruit, grapes for wine, cerealcrops, sugar beetsNatural resources: Lignite, phosphorites, gypsum

MONACOTotal area (sq. miles): 0.75Total population: 32,409Capital city: MonacoCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: French, English, Italian, Monegasque Farming: No farmingNatural resources: No natural resources

4342

EUROPE Factfiles NETHERLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 16,033Total population: 16,407,491Capital city: AmsterdamCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: Dutch; Frisian Farming (top 5 products): Cereal crops,potatoes, sugar beets, fruit, vegetablesNatural resources (top 5): Natural gas, oil, peat, limestone, salt

NORWAYTotal area (sq. miles): 125,182Total population: 4,593,041Capital city: OsloCurrency: Norwegian krone (NOK)Languages: Bokmal Norwegian, Nynorsk Norwegian, small Samiand Finnish-speaking minorities Farming (top 5 products): Barley, wheat, potatoes, livestock, milkNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead

POLANDTotal area (sq. miles): 120,728Total population: 38,635,144Capital city: WarsawCurrency: Zloty (PLN)Languages: PolishFarming (top 5 products): Potatoes, fruit,vegetables, wheat, poultryNatural resources (top 5): Coal, sulphur, copper, natural gas, silver

PORTUGALTotal area (sq. miles): 35,672Total population: 10,566,212Capital city: LisbonCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: Portuguese, MirandeseFarming (top 5 products): Cereal crops,potatoes, olives, grapes, livestockNatural resources (top 5): Fish, cork forests, iron ore, copper, zinc

ROMANIATotal area (sq. miles): 91,699Total population: 22,329,977Capital city: BucharestCurrency: Leu (ROL)Languages: Romanian, Hungarian, German Farming (top 5 products): Wheat, corn, barley,sugar beets, sunflower seedsNatural resources (top 5): Oil, timber, natural gas, coa, iron ore

RUSSIAN FEDERATIONTotal area (sq. miles): 6,592,772Total population: 143,420,309Capital city: MoscowCurrency: Russian ruble (RUR)Languages: RussianFarming (top 5 products): Cereal crops,sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, coal, many minerals, timber

SAN MARINOTotal area (sq. miles): 24Total population: 28,880Capital city: San MarinoCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: ItalianFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, grapes, corn, olives, livestockNatural resources: Stone for construction

SERBIA MONTENEGROTotal area (sq. miles): 39,518Total population: 10,829,175Capital city: BelgradeCurrency: Yugoslav dinar (YUM), Euro (EUR)Languages: Serbian, AlbanianFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, cotton, sugar cane, rice, potatoesNatural resources (top 5): Oil, gas, coal, iron ore, bauxite

SLOVAKIATotal area (sq. miles): 18,859Total population: 5,431,363Capital city: BratislavaCurrency: Slovak koruna (SKK)Languages: Slovak; HungarianFarming (top 5 products): Cereal crops,potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, manganese

SLOVENIATotal area (sq. miles): 7827Total population: 2,011,070Capital city: LjubljanaCurrency: Tolar (SIT)Languages: Slovenian, Serbo-CroatianFarming (top 5 products): Potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, cornNatural resources (top 5): Lignite, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium

SPAINTotal area (sq. miles): 194,897Total population: 40,341,462Capital city: MadridCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan,Galician, BasqueFarming (top 5 products): Cereal crops,vegetables, olives, grapes for wine, sugar beetsNatural resources (top 5): Coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead

SWEDENTotal area (sq. miles): 173,732Total population: 9,001,774Capital city: StockholmCurrency: Swedish krona (SEK)Languages: Swedish, small Sami andFinnish-speaking minoritiesFarming (top 5 products): Barley, wheat,sugar beets, livestock, milkNatural resources (top 5): Iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold

SWITZERLANDTotal area (sq. miles): 15,942Total population: 7,489,370Capital city: BernCurrency: Swiss franc (CHF)Languages: German; French, ItalianFarming (top 5 products): Cereal crops, fruit, vegetables, livestock, eggsNatural resources: Hydroelectric power potential, timber, salt

TURKEYTotal area (sq. miles): 301,384Total population: 69,660,559Capital city: AnkaraCurrency: New Turkish lira (YTL)Languages: Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek Farming (top 5 products): Tobacco, cotton, cereals, olives, sugar beetsNatural resources (top 5): Coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony

UKRAINETotal area (sq. miles): 233,090Total population: 47,425,336Capital city: KievCurrency: Hryvnia (UAH)Languages: Ukrainian, RussianFarming (top 5 products): Cereal crops, sugar beets, sunflower seeds,vegetables, cattleNatural resources (top 5): Iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil

UNITED KINGDOMTotal area (sq. miles): 94,526Total population: 60,441,457Capital city: LondonCurrency: British pound (GBP)Languages: EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Cereal crops,oilseed, potatoes, vegetables, livestockNatural resources (top 5): Coal, oil, natural gas, iron ore, lead

VATICAN CITYTotal area (sq. miles): 0.17Total population: 921Capital city: Vatican CityCurrency: Euro (EUR)Languages: Italian, LatinFarming: No farmingNatural resources: No natural resources

The Alps mountain range stretches fromFrance, through Switzerland, Liechtenstein,

and Italy, to Austria and Slovenia. The rangeis 750 miles long with a width of 125 miles

at its widest sections.• See the GLOSSARY for words and terms used in these FACTFILES. • See the GLOSSARY for words and terms used in these FACTFILES.

EUROPE

4544

Asia is the world’s largest continent, and it

includes many vast countries with huge

populations, such as China, India, and

the Russian Federation. The landscape includes

Arctic tundra, tropical rainforests, and the world’s

highest mountains, the Himalayas. Rice is Asia’s

most important food crop, and paddy fields can be

seen dotted across Southeast Asia—one fifth of

the world’s rice is grown in this part of Asia.

ASIA

NAME LOCATION HEIGHT (feet)Qullai Ismoili Somoni Tajikistan 24,590Damavand Iran 18,386Punkak Jaya Indonesia 16,503Kinabalu Borneo, Malaysia 13,432Fuji San Japan 12,388

NAME LOCATION AREA (sq. miles)Caspian Sea Asia 143,244*Aral Sea Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan 11,076Lake Balqash Kazakhstan 7,143Ysyk Kol Kyrgyzstan 2,394

* The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest lake.

NAME LOCATION AREA (sq miles)Borneo Southeast Asia 287,399Sumatra Indonesia 182,858Honshu Japan 87,992

The Russian Federation coversaround 11% of the Earth’s surface.

• Over 5 million square miles of thecountry form the great barren

plains, tundra regions and taigaforests of Siberia.

• The Trans-Siberian railway is thelongest stretch of railway track in

the world. The 5,778-mile journeyfrom Moscow to Vladivostok (onthe Pacific coast) takes aroundeight days.

HIGHEST MOUNTAINS (BY COUNTRY)

LARGEST LAKES

LARGEST ISLANDS

P E O P L EFACTFILE

Total population:3,840,000,000

Highest population:China 1,306,313,812

Lowest population:Maldives 349,106

Most populous city in Asiaand the world:Tokyo, Japan35,327,000


Highest infant mortality rate:Afghanistan:163 deaths per 1,000 births

Average annual income per person (in USD):Highest: Hong Kong $34,200Lowest: East Timor $400


Total land area:17,177,000 square miles(including Asian Russia)

Largest countries:Asian Russia: 4,934,704 square milesChina: 3,705,407 square miles

Smallest country:Macau: 9.8 square miles

Highest mountain in Asia andthe world:Mt. Everest, China/Nepal29,035 feet

Longest river:Yangtze: 3,964 miles

Largest dessert:Arabian Desert, Arabian Peninsula900,000 square miles

Highest waterfall:Jog Falls, IndiaTotal drop: 830 feet

M A L A Y S I A I N D O N E S I A

C H I N A

I N D I A

SRI LANKA

P A K I S T A NNEPAL

PHILIPPINES

JAPANM O N G O L I A

R U S S I A N

F E D E R A T I O N

KAZAKHSTAN

I R A N

TURKEY

IRAQ

AFGHANISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

UZBEKISTAN

KYRGYZSTAN

TAJIKISTAN

BHUTAN

BANGLADESH

THAILAND

VIETNAMCAMBODIA

BRUNEI

NORTHKOREA

SOUTHKOREA

SYRIA

JORDANISRAEL

LEBANONGAZA

TAIWAN

KUWAIT

S A U D IA R A B I A

O M A NY E M E N

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POLITICAL MAP OF ASIA

This image of the Himalayas mountain range in Asia was takenfrom the International Space Station. The Himalayas are thehighest mountains in the world. There are more than 110 peaksover 24,000 feet in the Himalayas range, which include the world’sten highest mountains.

Kuwait is a desert country withno rivers or lakes. Sea water isprocessed for drinking and storedin huge water towers.

A worldwide symbol ofconservation, China’s Giant

Panda lives in the mountainousforests of southwestern China.

• See page 10 WORLD’S 10 HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS

AFRICA

ASIA

The Equator

Arctic Circle

• See page 49 ASIA FACTFILES

• See page 10 WORLD’S 10 LONGEST RIVERS


• See page 10 WORLD’S 10 HIGHEST MOUNTAINS forinformation on Asia’s highest mountains. The amount of oil produced,

bought and sold, and used inthe world is measured in barrels.A barrel is equivalentto 42 gallons.

Saudi Arabia is the world’slargest producer of oil—9,021,000 barrels each day.

25% of the world’s proven oilreserves are in Saudi Arabia.

TOP 5 CONSUMERS OF OIL IN ASIA

(USAGE PER DAY)

Japan 5,290,000 barrelsChina 4,956,000 barrelsIndia 2,130,000 barrelsSouth Korea 2,070,000 barrelsSaudi Arabia 1,550,000 barrels

SIBERIA

OIL CONSUMPTION

ASIA

4746

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2221

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2120 22

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PHYSICAL MAP OF ASIA PHYSICAL MAP OF ASIA

N

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9,800

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Land heightsFeet

Sea depthsFeet

ASIA

4948

CLIMATE: ASIA

• Indonesia is the largestarchipelago, or island chain, inthe world. It stretches for 3,480miles from the Indian Ocean tothe Pacific Ocean and is made upof 13,000 islands. Indonesia hasabout 400 volcanoes, 100 ofwhich are active.

• The world’s most spokenlanguage is Chinese—13.69%of the world’s people speakChinese as their main language.

• The Maldives island group is madeup of 1196 coral islands. Only203 are inhabited and theaverage height above sea levelof the islands is just 6 feet.

• The Dead Sea is a landlocked saltlake between Israel and Jordan.The Dead Sea is 1339 feet belowsea level and is the lowest bodyof water on Earth.

• Hong Kong is made up of over200 small islands.

FAST FACTS

ARCTIC CIRCLE

1.9%

THE EQUATOR

TEMPERATURES IN JANUARY

TEMPERATURES IN JULY

In just one 10-hectare plot ofMalaysian rainforest, scientistsfound 780 different species oftrees. However, Asian rainforestsare being destroyed fast.

• Around 25% of bird species and50% of all mammal species,including the orangutan, willbecome extinct by 2020 ifdeforestation continues.

• There are only 20,000orangutans left living in the wild. They live in Sumatra and Borneo.

• In the Tanjung Puting Park inBorneo, 6,000 orangutans live ina protected zone, along with 220species of birds, 600 species oftrees and 200 species of orchid.

• See page 24 AMAZON RAINFOREST FACTS• See page 32 HABITATS AND PROTECTING AFRICA’S RAINFOREST

Skyscrapers in Hong Kong.


KEY


17.8%

35.8%15.7%

28.8%

over 90º F

75º to 90º F

60º to 75º F

45º to 60º F

30º to 45º F

15º to 30º F

0º to 15º F

-10º to 0º F

below -10º F

KEY


Permanent pasture




The main area of rainforestin southeast Asia spreadsdown the mainland ofMalaysia to Indonesia.

One of the wettestplaces in the worldis Mawsynram,India. Nearly 40 feetof rain falls hereevery year.


AFGHANISTANTotal area (sq. miles): 250,000Total population: 29,928,987Capital city: KabulCurrency: Afghani (AFA)Languages: Afghan Persian or Dari, PashtuFarming (top 5 products): Opium, wheat, fruit, nuts, sheepNatural resources (top 5): Natural gas, oil, coal, copper, chromite

ARMENIATotal area (sq. miles): 11,506Total population: 2,982,904Capital city: YerevanCurrency: Dram (AMD)Languages: Armenian, Yezidi Farming: Fruit (especially grapes), vegetables, livestockNatural resources (top 5): Gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina

AZERBAIJANTotal area (sq. miles): 33,436Total population: 7,911,974Capital city: BakiCurrency: Azerbaijani manat (AZM)Languages: Azerbaijani, Russian, ArmenianFarming (top 5 products): Cotton, cereal crops, rice, grapes, fruitNatural resources: Oil, natural gas, metals (including iron)

BAHRAINTotal area (sq. miles): 257Total population: 453,237Capital city: ManamaCurrency: Bahraini dinar (BHD)Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, UrduFarming: Fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy productsNatural resources: Oil, natural gas, fish, pearls

BANGLADESHTotal area (sq. miles): 55,599Total population: 144,319,628Capital city: DhakaCurrency: Taka (BDT)Languages: Bangla (or Bengali), EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugar caneNatural resources: Natural gas, arable land, timber, coal

BHUTANTotal area (sq. miles): 18,147Total population: 2,232,291Capital city: ThimphuCurrency: Ngultrum (BTN), Indian rupee (INR)Languages: Dzongkha, Tibetan, and Nepalese dialectsFarming (top 5 products): Rice, corn, vegetables, citrus fruits,cereal cropsNatural resources: Timber, hydroelectric power, gypsum, calciumcarbonate

BRUNEITotal area (sq. miles): 2,228Total population: 372,361Capital city: Bandar Seri BegawanCurrency: Bruneian dollar (BND) Languages: Malay, English, Chinese Farming (top 5 products): Rice, vegetables, fruit, chickens, water buffaloNatural resources: Oil, natural gas, timber

CAMBODIATotal area (sq. miles): 69,900Total population: 13,607,069Capital city: Phnom PenhCurrency: Riel (KHR)Languages: Khmer, French, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashew nutsNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore

CHINATotal area (sq. miles): 3,705,407Total population: 1,306,313,812Capital city: BeijingCurrency: Yuan (CNY)Languages: Mandarin ChineseFarming (top 5 products): Rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanutsNatural resources (top 5): Coal, iron ore, oil, natural gas, mercury

EAST TIMORTotal area (sq. miles): 5,794Total population: 1,040,880Capital city: DiliCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: Tetum, Portuguese, Indonesian, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoesNatural resources (top 5): Gold, oil, natural gas, manganese, marble

GAZA STRIPTotal area (sq. miles): 139Total population: 1,376,289Capital city: GazaCurrency: New Israeli shekel (ILS)Languages: ArabicFarming (top 5 products): Olives, citrus fruits, vegetables, cattle, dairy productsNatural resources: Arable land, natural gasStatus: Semi-autonomous region

GEORGIATotal area (sq. miles): 26,911Total population: 4,677,401Capital city: T’bilisiCurrency: Lari (GEL)Languages: Georgian, Russian, ArmenianFarming (top 5 products): Citrus fruits, grapes, tea, hazelnuts,vegetablesNatural resources (top 5): Timber, hydroelectric power, manganese, iron ore, copper

HONG KONGTotal area (sq. miles): 422Total population: 6,898,686Capital city: Hong KongCurrency: Hong Kong dollar (HKD)Languages: Chinese, EnglishFarming: Vegetables, poultryNatural resources: Deepwater harbor, feldsparStatus: Semi-autonomous territory of China

INDIATotal area (sq. miles): 1,269,346Total population: 1,080,264,388Capital city: New DelhiCurrency: Indian rupee (INR)Languages: English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, GujaratiFarming (top 5 products): Rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, juteNatural resources (top 5): Coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite

INDONESIATotal area (sq. miles): 741,100Total population: 241,973,879Capital city: JakartaCurrency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR)Languages: Bahasa Indonesia, English, Dutch, JavaneseFarming (top 5 products): Rice, cassava, peanuts, rubber, cocoaNatural resources (top 5): Oil, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber

IRANTotal area (sq. miles): 636,296Total population: 68,017,860Capital city: TehranCurrency: Iranian rial (IRR)Languages: Persian, Turkic, KurdishFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, rice, cereal crops, sugar beets, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper

ASIA FACTFILES

THE ASIAN RAINFOREST

HABITATS

LAND USE

This map shows the different typesof habitats across the continent.

ASIA


ARCTIC CIRCLE

THE EQUATOR

PHILIPPINESTotal area (sq. miles): 115,831Total population: 87,857,473Capital city: ManilaCurrency: Philippine peso (PHP)Languages: Filipino, English, Tagalog, CebuanoFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananasNatural resources (top 5): Timber, oil, nickel, cobalt, silver

QATARTotal area (sq. miles): 4416Total population: 863,051Capital city: DohaCurrency: Qatari rial (QAR)Languages: Arabic, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, cattleNatural resources: Oil, natural gas, fish

SAUDI ARABIATotal area (sq. miles): 756,985Total population: 20,841,523Capital city: RiyadhCurrency: Saudi riyal (SAR)Languages: ArabicFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, datesNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

SINGAPORETotal area (sq. miles): 267Total population: 4,425,720Capital city: SingaporeCurrency: Singapore dollar (SGD)Languages: Chinese (Mandarin), English, MalayFarming (top 5 products): Rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetablesNatural resources: Fish, deepwater ports (suitable for shipping)

SOUTH KOREATotal area (sq. miles): 38,023Total population: 48,422,644Capital city: SeoulCurrency: South Korean won (KRW)Languages: Korean Farming (top 5 products): Rice, vegetables, barley, vegetables, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead

SRI LANKATotal area (sq. miles): 25,332Total population: 20,064,776Capital city: Sri Jayewardenepura KotteCurrency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)Languages: Sinhala, Tamil, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Rice, sugar cane, cereal crops, pulses, oilseedNatural resources (top 5): Limestone, graphite, mineral sands,gemstones, phosphates

SYRIATotal area (sq. miles): 71,498Total population: 18,448,752Capital city: DamascusCurrency: Syrian pound (SYP)Languages: Arabic, KurdishFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeasNatural resources (top 5): Oil, phosphates, chrome ore, manganese,asphalt

TAIWANTotal area (sq. miles): 13,892Total population: 22,894,384Capital city: TaipeiCurrency: New Taiwan dollar (TWD)Languages: Chinese (Mandarin), TaiwaneseFarming (top 5 products): Rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, teaNatural resources (top 5): Coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestosStatus: Self-governing territory of China

TAJIKISTANTotal area (sq. miles): 55,251Total population: 7,163,506Capital city: DushanbeCurrency: SomoniLanguages: Tajik, RussianFarming (top 5 products): Cotton, cereal crops, fruit, grapes, vegetablesNatural resources (top 5): Hydroelectric power, oil, uranium, mercury, coal

THAILANDTotal area (sq. miles): 198,457Total population: 65,444,371Capital city: BangkokCurrency: Baht (THB)Languages: Thai, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Rice, cassava, rubber, corn, sugar caneNatural resources (top 5): Tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum

TURKMENISTANTotal area (sq. miles): 188,456Total population: 4,952,081Capital city: AshgabatCurrency: Turkmen manat (TMM)Languages: Turkmen, Russian, Uzbek Farming: Cotton, cereal crops, livestockNatural resources: Oil, natural gas, sulphur, salt

UNITED ARAB EMIRATESTotal area (sq. miles): 32,000Total population: 957,133Capital city: Abu DhabiCurrency: Emirati dirham (AED)Languages: Arabic, Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu Farming (top 5 products): Dates, vegetables, water melons, poultry, eggsNatural resources: Oil, natural gas

UZBEKISTANTotal area (sq. miles): 172,742Total population: 26,851,195Capital city: ToshkentCurrency: Uzbekistani sum (UZS)Languages: Uzbek, Russian, Tajik Farming (top 5 products): Cotton, vegetables, fruit, cereal crops,livestockNatural resources (top 5): Natural gas, oil, coal, gold, uranium

VIETNAMTotal area (sq. miles): 127,244Total population: 83,535,576Capital city: HanoiCurrency: Dong (VND)Languages: Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese, KhmerFarming (top 5 products): Rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, teaNatural resources (top 5): Phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite,chromate

WEST BANKTotal area (sq. miles): 2,263Total population: 2,385,615Capital city: West BankCurrency: New Israeli shekel (ILS), Jordanian dinar (JOD)Languages: Arabic, Hebrew, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Olives, citrus fruits, vegetables, cattle, dairy productsNatural resources: Arable landStatus: Disputed territory

YEMENTotal area (sq. miles): 203,850Total population: 20,727,063Capital city: SanaaCurrency: Yemeni rial (YER)Languages: ArabicFarming (top 5 products): Cereal crops, fruit, vegetables, pulses, qat (a mildly narcotic shrub)Natural resources (top 5): Oil, fish, rock salt, marble, coal

5150

IRAQTotal area (sq. miles): 168,754Total population: 26,074,906Capital city: BaghdadCurrency: New Iraqi dinar (NID)Languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Assyrian, ArmenianFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, datesNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, phosphates, sulphur

ISRAELTotal area (sq. miles): 8,019Total population: 6,276,883Capital city: JerusalemCurrency: New Israeli shekel (ILS)Languages: Hebrew, Arabic, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Citrus fruits, vegetables,cotton, cattle, poultryNatural resources (top 5): Timber, potash, copper,natural gas, phosphate

JAPANTotal area (sq. miles): 145,883Total population: 127,417,244Capital city: TokyoCurrency: Yen (JPY)Languages: JapaneseFarming (top 5 products): Rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit, pigsNatural resources: Fish

JORDANTotal area (sq. miles): 35,637Total population: 5,759,732Capital city: ‘AmmanCurrency: Jordanian dinar (JOD)Languages: Arabic, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, citrus fruits, tomatoes, melonsNatural resources: Phosphates, potash, oil shale

KAZAKHSTANTotal area (sq. miles): 1,049,155Total population: 15,185,844Capital city: AstanaCurrency: Tenge (KZT)Languages: Kazakh, RussianFarming: Cereal crops, cotton, livestockNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese

KUWAITTotal area (sq. miles): 6,880Total population: 1,044,294Capital city: KuwaitCurrency: Kuwaiti dinar (KD)Languages: Arabic, EnglishFarming: No farmingNatural resources: Oil, fish, shrimp, natural gas

KYRGYZSTANTotal area (sq. miles): 76,641Total population: 5,146,281Capital city: BishkekCurrency: Kyrgyz som (KGS)Languages: Kyrgyz, RussianFarming (top 5 products): Tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapesNatural resources (top 5): Hydroelectric power, gold, coal, oil, natural gas

LAOSTotal area (sq. miles): 91,429Total population: 6,217,141Capital city: VientianeCurrency: Kip (LAK)Languages: Lao, French, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee,sugar caneNatural resources (top 5): Timber, hydroelectric power, gypsum, tin, gold

LEBANONTotal area (sq. miles): 4,015Total population: 3,826,018Capital city: BeirutCurrency: Lebanese pound (LBP)Languages: Arabic, French, English, ArmenianFarming (top 5 products): Citrus fruits, grapes, tomatoes, apples,vegetablesNatural resources: Limestone, iron ore, salt, surplus water (in an area where water is scarce)

MACAUTotal area (sq. miles): 9.8Total population: 449,198Capital city: MacauCurrency: Pataca (MOP)Languages: Chinese (Cantonese)Farming: Limited farmingNatural resources: Fish, shellfishStatus: Semi-autonomous territory of China

MALAYSIATotal area (sq. miles): 127,317Total population: 23,953,136Capital city: Kuala LumpurCurrency: Ringgit (MYR)Languages: Bahasa Melayu, English, Chinese dialects, TamilFarming (top 5 products): Rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice, timberNatural resources (top 5): Tin, oil, timber, copper, iron ore

MALDIVESTotal area (sq. miles): 116Total population: 349,106Capital city: MaleCurrency: Rufiyaa (MVR)Languages: Maldivian Dhivehi, English spoken by government officialsFarming: Coconuts, corn, sweet potatoesNatural resources: Fish

MONGOLIATotal area (sq. miles): 603,909Total population: 2,791,272Capital city: UlaanbaatarCurrency: Tugrik (MNT)Languages: Khalkha Mongol, Turkic, Russian Farming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, vegetables, crops for animalfeed, livestock (including camels and horses)Natural resources (top 5): Oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten

MYANMAR (BURMA)Total area (sq. miles): 261,970Total population: 42,909,464Capital city: Yangon (Rangoon)Currency: Kyat (MMK)Languages: BurmeseFarming (top 5 products): Rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnutsNatural resources (top 5): Oil, timber, tin, antimony, zinc

NEPALTotal area (sq. miles): 54,363Total population: 27,676,547Capital city: KathmanduCurrency: Nepalese rupee (NPR)Languages: Nepali, MaithaliFarming (top 5 products): Rice, corn, wheat, sugar cane, vegetablesNatural resources (top 5): Oil, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone

NORTH KOREATotal area (sq. miles): 46,541Total population: 22,912,177Capital city: PyongyangCurrency: North Korean won (KPW)Languages: KoreanFarming (top 5 products): Rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulsesNatural resources (top 5): Coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite

OMANTotal area (sq. miles): 82,031Total population: 2,424,290Capital city: MuscatCurrency: Omani rial (OMR)Languages: Arabic, English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialectsFarming (top 5 products): Dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetablesNatural resources (top 5): Oil, copper, asbestos, marble, limestone

PAKISTANTotal area (sq. miles): 310,403Total population: 162,419,946Capital city: IslamabadCurrency: Pakistani rupee (PKR)Languages: Punjabi, Sindhi, Siraiki, Pashtu, UrduFarming (top 5 products): Cotton, wheat, rice, sugar cane, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Natural gas, oil, coal, iron ore, copper

ASIA Factfiles

Tigers are the largest memberof the cat family. They live in a variety of habitats insoutheast Asia—from hotjungle regions in countries such as India, to the cold,coniferous forests of Siberia.

ASIA


5352

HAWAIIANISLANDS (U.S.)

MARSHALLISLANDS

SOLOMONISLANDS

TUVALU

KIRIBATINAURU

NewCaledonia

Tokelau

VANUATUFIJI

AmericanSamoaTONGA

Guam

CookIslands

French Po lynes ia

Tahiti

Norfolk Islands

WALLIS ANDFUTUNA ISLANDS

M I C R O NE S

I A

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I N D O N E S I A

N O R T HP A C I F I C

O C E A N

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S o u t h W e s tP a c i f i c B a s i nTa s m a n

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G r ea t Ba r r i e r ReefI N D I A N

O C E A N

A U S T R A L I A

PAPUANEWGUINEA

NEW

ZEALAND

POLITICAL MAP OF OCEANIA

The term Oceania generally refers to the

countries of Australia, New Zealand, Papua

New Guinea, and the islands of the South

Pacific. Oceania stretches across a vast area of

ocean and includes 20,000 or so islands that

make up the regions of Micronesia, Melanesia

and Polynesia. Thousands of the islands are

uninhabited, and many are formed from coral reefs

and underwater volcanoes. Papua New Guinea is

made up of the eastern half of the island of New

Guinea and around 600 smaller islands.

OCEANIA

NAME LOCATION HEIGHT (feet) Mt Wilhelm Papua New Guinea 14,793Mt Cook New Zealand 12,316Mt Kosciuszko Australia 7,316

NAME LOCATION AREA (sq. miles)New Guinea Island 316,990(total island including Indonesian part)South Island New Zealand 58,108North Island New Zealand 44,286Tasmania Australia 26,178

* Australia is too large to be an island. It is a continental landmass.

• The Great Barrier Reef spreadsfor 1,250 miles alongAustralia’s coast. It covers anarea of 135,000 square miles.

• The capital of New Zealand,Wellington, is the southernmostcapital city in the world.

• Australia has a total of 529,346square miles of desert—18%of Australia is desert land.

• The Kwajalein atoll, in theMarshall Islands, is a ring ofcoral enclosing a lagoon ofaround 1,100 square miles. It isthe biggest atoll in the world.

• The Marshall islands comprisetwo island chains which include30 atolls and 1,152 islands.

• The 5.5 million people of PapuaNew Guinea speak around 800different languages.

• New Zealand uses hydro-electricpower and has very littleindustry so it is one of thecleanest, least-polluted countriesin the world.

HIGHEST MOUNTAINS (BY COUNTRY)FAST FACTS

LARGEST ISLANDS

P E O P L EFACTFILE


Highest population:Australia 20,090,437

Lowest population:Tuvalu 11,636

Most populous city:Sydney, Australia4,000,000

Life expectancy:Male: 68.5 yearsFemale: 74 years

Highest infant mortality rate:Vanuato: 55 deaths per 1,000 births

Average annual income per person (in USD):Highest: Australia $30,700Lowest: Kiribati $800


Total land area:3,303,000

Largest country:Australia: 2,967,909 square miles

Smallest country:Nauru: 8.11 square miles

Longest river:Murray-Darling, Australia2330 miles

Largest desert:Great Victoria Desert, Australia134,653 square miles

Highest waterfall:Wallaman Falls, AustraliaTotal drop: 1000 feet

• See page 55OCEANIA FACTFILES

CLIMATE: OCEANIA

LAND USE

OCEANIA

ASIA

The Equator

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Capricorn

TROPIC OF CAPRICORN TROPIC OF CAPRICORN

The Great Barrier Reef isa complex of coral reefs,

sandbanks, and islets off thenortheastern coast of Australia.


Uluru in the desert of central Australia is a sacred place to Australianaboriginal people. This oval-shaped, giant block of sandstone is at least450 million years old. Uluru is 2.2 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.

ULURU

HABITATS

24.3%

50.3%

0.4%6.2%

18.8%

KEY

Forest, including treesgrown for timberPermanent pasturePermanent crops,such as fruit trees orgrapevines


Other roads, towns,and barren landThis map shows the different types

of habitat across the continent.

Mountains/barren landForestGrassland

SemidesertDesert

KEY

over 90º F

75º to 90º F

60º to 75º F

45º to 60º F

30º to 45º F

15º to 30º F

0º to 15º F

-10º to 0º F

below -10º F

TEMPERATURESIN JULY

TEMPERATURESIN JANUARY

OCEANIA

54 55

AMERICAN SAMOATotal area (sq. miles): 77Total population: 57,881Capital city: Pago PagoCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: Samoan, EnglishFarming: Bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taroNatural resources: PumiceStatus: United States unincorporated territory

AUSTRALIATotal area (sq. miles): 2,967,909Total population: 20,090,437Capital city: CanberraCurrency: Australian dollar (AUD)Languages: English Farming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, sugar cane, fruit, livestockNatural resources (top 5): Bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin

COOK ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 93Total population: 21,388Capital city: AvaruaCurrency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)Languages: English, MaoriFarming (top 5 products): Copra, citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, beansNatural resources: No natural resourcesStatus: New Zealand overseas territory

FIJITotal area (sq. miles): 7,054Total population: 893,354Capital city: SuvaCurrency: Fijian dollar (FJD)Languages: English, Fijian, HindustaniFarming (top 5 products): Sugar cane, coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoesNatural resources (top 5): Timber, fish, gold, copper, oil potential

FRENCH POLYNESIATotal area (sq. miles): 1,609Total population: 270,485Capital city: PapeeteCurrency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)Languages: French, PolynesianFarming (top 5 products): Coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruit, poultryNatural resources: Timber, fish, cobalt, hydroelectric powerStatus: French overseas territory

GUAMTotal area (sq. miles): 212Total population: 168,564Capital city: HagatnaCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: English, Chamorro, Philippine languagesFarming (top 5 products): Fruit, copra, vegetables, eggs, livestockNatural resources: FishStatus: United States unincorporated territory

KIRIBATITotal area (sq. miles): 313Total population: 103,092Capital city: TarawaCurrency: Australian dollar (AUD)Languages: I-Kiribati, EnglishFarming: Copra, taro, breadfruit, vegetablesNatural resources: No natural resources

MARSHALL ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 70Total population: 59,071Capital city: MajuroCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: Marshallese, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruitNatural resources: Coconuts, fish, deep seabed minerals

MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES OF)Total area (sq. miles): 271Total population: 108,105Capital city: PalikirCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: English, Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, UlithianFarming (top 5 products): Black pepper, tropical fruit and vegetables,coconuts, cassava, betel nutsNatural resources: Timber, fish, deep seabed minerals, phosphate

NAURUTotal area (sq. miles): 8Total population: 13,048Capital city: No capital – government offices in Yaren districtCurrency: Australian dollar (AUD)Languages: Nauruan, EnglishFarming: CoconutsNatural resources: Phosphates, fish

NEW CALEDONIATotal area (sq. miles): 7,359Total population: 216,494Capital city: NoumeaCurrency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)Languages: French, 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialectsFarming: Vegetables, livestock (including deer)Natural resources (top 5): Nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganeseStatus: French overseas territory

NEW ZEALANDTotal area (sq. miles): 103,738Total population: 4,035,461Capital city: WellingtonCurrency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)Languages: English, MaoriFarming (top 5 products): Wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruitNatural resources (top 5): Natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 184Total population: 80,362Capital city: SaipanCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: Philippine languages, Chinese, Chamorro, EnglishFarming: Coconuts, fruit, vegetables, cattleNatural resources: Arable land, fishStatus: United States commonwealth

PALAUTotal area (sq. miles): 177Total population: 20,303Capital city: KororCurrency: US dollar (USD)Languages: Palauan, English, Tobi, AngaurFarming: Coconuts, copra, cassava, sweet potatoesNatural resources: Timber, gold, fish, deep seabed minerals

PAPUA NEW GUINEATotal area (sq. miles): 178,704Total population: 5,545,268Capital city: Port MoresbyCurrency: Kina (PGK)Languages: Melanesian, up to 800 indigenous languagesFarming (top 5 products): Coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, teaNatural resources (top 5): Gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber

SAMOATotal area (sq. miles): 1,137Total population: 177,287Capital city: ApiaCurrency: Tala (SAT)Languages: Samoan, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffeeNatural resources: Timber, fish, hydroelectric power

SOLOMON ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 10,985Total population: 538,032Capital city: HoniaraCurrency: Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)Languages: Melanesian, English, 120 indigenous languagesFarming (top 5 products): Cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoesNatural resources (top 5): Fish, timber, gold, bauxite, phosphates

TONGATotal area (sq. miles): 289Total population: 112,422Capital city: Nuku’alofaCurrency: Pa’anga (TOP)Languages: Tongan, EnglishFarming (top 5 products): Squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanillaNatural resources: Fish

TUVALUTotal area (sq. miles): 10Total population: 11,636Capital city: FunafutiCurrency: Australian dollar (AUD)Languages: Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on island of Nui)Farming: CoconutsNatural resources: Fish

VANUATUTotal area (sq. miles): 4,710Total population: 205,754Capital city: Port-VilaCurrency: Vatu (VUV)Languages: English, French, 100 indigenous languagesFarming (top 5 products): Copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taroNatural resources: Manganese, timber, fish

WALLIS AND FUTUNA ISLANDSTotal area (sq. miles): 106Total population: 16,025Capital city: Mata-UtuCurrency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)Languages: Wallisian, Futunian, FrenchFarming (top 5 products): Breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas, livestockNatural resources: No natural resourcesStatus: French overseas territory

OCEANIA FACTFILESEach country-by-country factfile contains: total area of the country in square miles; total population; name of the capital city; the main currencyused in the country; main languages spoken (listed in order of number of speakers); top five farming products produced (listed in order ofimportance to the country’s economy); natural resources (of commercial importance); and a country’s status if it is not independent.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 91

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PHYSICAL MAP OF OCEANIA

OCEANIA


5756

THE ARCTIC ANTARCTICAAntarctica is a mountainous continent that

is almost completely covered by a

gigantic sheet of ice the size of Europe

and the USA put together. It is the coldest and

windiest place on Earth. Average winter

temperatures reach -76ºF and roaring, ferocious

winds of up to 180 miles an hour produce

blizzards and snowdrifts.

A R C T I CFACTFILE

Size of Arctic Ocean:5.4 million square miles

The Ice Cap:The Arctic Ocean is surrounded byicy land. A large section of theocean is permanently frozen. This iscalled the ice cap. In the winter, thesea freezes and increases the sizeof the ice cap so that it touches theland.

Arctic temperatures:Lowest winter temperature -49°F

Arctic seasons:The sun never rises during the sixmonths of the Arctic winter. In thesummer, there are times when thesun never sets.

Arctic animal life:Polar bears, caribou, arctic foxes,seals, whales, narwhals, walruses,and sea birds all live in the Arctic.

Polar bear fact:The polar bear is the only bear withinternational protection. Scientistsestimate there are up to 40,000polar bears living in the ArcticCircle.

Polar bear hunting grounds:Polar bears spend the winter andspring on the frozen ocean huntingfor harp seals and hooded seals.When the ice thaws for the summer,they move back onto the mainland.

Plant life:Over 500 different species offlowering plants grow within theArctic Circle.

Fast fact:Both the Arctic and Antarctic areclassified as cold deserts becausemost areas receive less than 10inches of rain or snow each year.

SevernayaZemlya

NovayaZemlya

Svalbard

BaffinIsland

EllesmereIsland

VictoriaIsland

ZemlyaFrantsaIosifa

BeaufortSea

ChukchiSea

EastSiberian

Sea

LaptevSea

KaraSea

BarentsSeaGreenland

Sea

Norwegian Sea

Lincoln Sea

BaffinBay

A R C T I C

O C E A N

NorthPole

(KALAALLIT NUNAAT)

A R C T I C C I R C L E

NorthMagneticPole

Mt. Gunnbjørn

NORWAY

SWEDEN

RUSSIAN

FEDERATION

C A N A D A

GREENLAND

ICELAND

ALASKA

(USA)

FINLAND

ARGENTINA

CHILE

FalklandIslands (U.K.)

South Georgia (U.K.)

South Orkney Island (U.K.)

SouthShetland Islands(U.K.)

Amundsen-Scott South Polar Station (U.S.)

S co t i a S ea

Be l l i nghau senSea

AmundsenSea

Ro s sSea

Ross IceShelf

ShackletonIce Shelf

AmeryIce Shelf

Wedde l lS ea

SO

U T H E R N

O

CE

AN

EllsworthLand

M a r i e B y r dL a n d

South Pole

PENSACOLAMOUNTAINS

A M E R I C A N

H I G H L A N D

Mt. Markham

Mt. Erebus

Vi c t o r i aLand

Wi l k

es

La

nd

E nde rbyLand

D ronn ing Maud Land

Coa t

sLa

nd

SouthMagnetic

Pole

Bentley Trench

A N T A R C T I C C I R C L E

T R A N S A N T A R C T I CM

OU

NT A

I NS

A N T A R C T I C AFACTFILE

Antarctica/Arctic:The name means opposite theArctic. When it is summer in theArctic, it is winter in Antarctica.

Total area of continent:5,443,000 square miles98% ice2% barren rock

Life in Antarctica:The Antarctic has very little ice-freeland even in summer. No landmammals live here. Fewer plantsand animals live here than theArctic. Adelie and Emperorpenguins come ashore to breed andlay their eggs here.

Nearest landmass:South America—the southern tip isapproximately 600 miles fromAntarctica.

Length of coastline:11,164,798 miles

Highest mountain:Vinson Massif16,066 feet

Lowest point:Bentley sub-glacial trench8,383 feet below sea level

Population:No permanent population. Around1,000 to 4,000 scientists working atresearch stations.

Natural resources:Iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum, and otherminerals.

Fast fact:More than 90% of all the world’sfresh water is stored in the icesheets on Antarctica, andGreenland in the Arctic region.

Polar bears live in the ArcticCircle. They are the world’slargest land-living predator.

Emperor Penguins live in theAntarctic. They grow to around3.5 feet tall and are the largest

species of penguin.

The Arctic region is at the very top of the

Earth. The Arctic Circle comprises a

shallow, frozen ocean surrounded by the

northern edges of Europe, Asia, and North

America. The area is named after Arktos, the

Great Bear star constellation, which dominates the

northern polar skies. The Arctic circle area is

marked on maps with an imaginary line.

ARCTIC CIRCLE

NORTH AMERICA

ANTARCTICA

Antarctic Circle

SOUTHAMERICA

EUROPE

THE ARCTIC ICE THE ANTARCTIC ICE

POLITICAL MAP OF ANTARCTICA POLITICAL MAP OF THE ARCTIC

The middle of the Arctic is frozen all year round, althoughthe ice is less than 33 feet thick.

The sea bed is a dark world ofunderwater mountains, ranges ofhills, and vast, flat plains.

ASIANORTHAMERICA

The Antarctic ice sheet is upto 2.5 miles thick in places.

If the ice was removed,the land would riseabout 1800 feet.

A few mountains, callednunataks, extend theirpeaks above the ice.

EASTWEST

THE ARCTIC/ANTARCTICA

Longitude Lines on a mapwhich run north to south andmeasure how many degrees eastor west a place is from the PrimeMeridian Line (the imaginary linethat runs north to south throughGreenwich in London, UK, theplace that has been designatedzero degrees longitude).

Magma Hot, molten rock insidethe Earth’s mantle. Magmasometimes escapes to the Earth’ssurface through a volcano orother crack in the Earth’s crust.As soon as it leaves the Earth,magma is called lava.Manganese A metallic element,mined and used in the making ofsteel, pesticides, fertilizers,batteries, and some ceramics. It isa hazardous substance. Highlevels of manganese will hurt thenervous system.

Mantle The layer inside theEarth between the Earth’s rockycrust and the core. The mantle ismade up of soft, molten rock.

Mayan A “language family”that includes many AmericanIndian languages spoken bypeople in Central America.

Molybdenum A brittle, silver-gray metal used in making somekinds of steel.

Nahua A language spoken byindigenous people from southernMexico to Central America. The language dates back to the Aztecs.

Oil shale Fine-grained,sedimentary rock from which oilcan be extracted. Sedimentaryrock is formed from particles ofmud, sand, and other debris thathave settled and been squasheddown to form hard rock.

Ore Rock that contains a metalthat can be extracted.

Papiamento A Spanish Creolelanguage which is mixed withPortuguese, Dutch, and someEnglish. It is spoken on someCaribbean islands.

Patois A simplified spoken formof a language, often French orEnglish, that has been adaptedby people in a particular region.

Population The total number of people living in a town, city,particular area, country, orcontinent.

Pyrethrum A member of thechrysanthemum family that isused to make pesticides.

Quechua A language spokenby around 13 million people inSouth America. Quechua wasspoken by the Incas.

Rainforest A tropical forestmade up of four layers:

The emergent layer: Giant treesthat grow above the canopy ashigh as 240 feet.

The canopy: Most of therainforest wildlife is found in thecanopy, 130 feet above theground. This layer receives themost rain and sunshine so leaves,flowers, and fruit grow here.

The understory: A layer of smallertrees, climbing plants and shrubsthat are able to live in the shade.

The forest floor: The ground isalmost bare except for a thinlayer of leaves. Very little sunlightfilters down to here.

The rainforests act as a global airconditioner by absorbing carbondioxide from the air, storing thecarbon, and releasing fresh,clean oxygen. The world loses 50 species of plants and animalsevery day due to rainforestdeforestation—many before they have been cataloged andstudied.

Range (of mountains) Agroup of mountains.

Sea level The level of the sea’ssurface. It is used as the startingpoint for measuring the height ofthe surrounding land andlandforms such as hills andmountains.

Seismic waves The vibrationscaused by an earthquake, theunderground movement of rocks.Some waves travel at over13,000 mph, but can only be felt when they reach the surface.

Sisal A plant that produces afiber suitable for making ropesand matting.

Sorghum A cereal crop widelygrown in Africa. It can be usedas a grain for food and asanimal feed.

Taiga The vast stretch ofconiferous forest that reachesacross northern Asia close to theArctic Circle.

Taro A tropical plant with edibleleaves and edible, starchy corms.

Tectonic plates The hugepieces of the Earth’s crust fittogether like a puzzle. There areoceanic plates and continentalplates. The plates are constantlymoving, by just a few incheseach year, sliding and pushingagainst each other.

Tides The rise and then fall of the water in the world’s oceansthat happens twice each day.Tides are caused by the pull ofthe Moon’s gravity. As the Earthspins and parts of its surfacemove past the moon, the waterrises as the Moon pulls it—this iscalled a high tide. At the sametime, parts of the Earth’s surfacethat are not facing the Moonhave a low tide.

Tropic of Cancer An imaginaryline that runs around the worldbetween the North Pole and theEquator. These lines are used tomeasure the Earth and to helpfind places and describe differentregions. The area between theTropic of Cancer and the Tropicof Capricorn is warm and wetand is known as the Tropics.

Tropic of Capricorn Animaginary line that runs aroundthe world between the South Pole and the Equator. The areabetween the Tropic of Capricornand the Tropic of Cancer is warmand wet and is known as theTropics.

Tundra A boggy landscape oflow-growing plants and lakes thatform over permafrost—a layer of permanently frozen soil foundbeneath the surface of many coldareas.

5958

Afrikaans A language of SouthAfrica, closely related to Dutch.

Amerindian A word used todescribe Native Americans, or American Indians. WhenChristopher Columbus reachedthe Americas, he thought he hadreached Asia and the East Indies,which is why the word Indian firstcame to be used in connectionwith people living in America.

Arable land Land that issuitable for growing crops.

Aragonite A mineral consistingof calcium carbonate. It can befound in white sea shells and asdeposits in hot springs (naturallyhot water heated by undergroundvolcanic activity).

Archipelago A group ofislands, or an area of seacontaining many islands.

Atoll A ring-shaped reef, island,or chain of islands formed fromcoral.

Bantu A “language family” usedby over 400 different ethnic

groups in Africa from Cameroonto South Africa.

Bauxite The ore from whichaluminium is extracted.

Berber People belonging tonorthwest Africa, chiefly living inMorocco and Algeria, althoughsome now live in Egypt and asfar south as Burkina Faso.

Borders Lines separatinggeographical or political areas,especially the edges of countries.Borders are normally drawn upby governments. Borders canchange over time as countriestake over new territory, join withother countries, or split intosmaller countries.

Calcium carbonate Aninsoluble, white solid which canbe found in marble, chalk,limestone, and calcite, and in seashells and some corals. It is usedto make cement.

Cassava The starchy, tuber-likeroot of a tropical tree. It is usedas food, and is sometimes calledmanioc.

Chain (of mountains) A lineof mountains made up of morethan one mountain range.

Chicle A milky, latex liquidobtained from the sapodilla tree.It is used to make chewing gum.

Climate The averagetemperature and weather

conditions in a particular regionover a period of years.

Continent One of the Earth’slarge, continuous landmasses:Africa, Antarctica, Asia,Australia, Europe, NorthAmerica, and South America.

Copra The oil-yielding kernel ofthe coconut.

Coral The hard, stony substancesecreted by marine animalscalled polyps as an externalskeleton.

Coral reef An underwaterstructure made from coral—thehard, external skeletons of marineanimals called polyps. When apolyp dies, its skeleton remainsas part of the reef so the reefgradually becomes larger.

Creole A language formed fromthe mixing of a local languageand a European language, suchas French.

Desert A barren area of landwith very little or no rainfall.Deserts are normally sandy orrocky with limited plant andanimal life. Deserts can be hot or cold.

Equator An imaginary linearound the center of the Earth.The equator is exactly halfwaybetween the North and SouthPoles, the most northern andsouthern points on the Earth, andthe axis points the Earth spins on.The Equator divides the Earth intothe northern and southernhemispheres.

Faults Cracks in the Earth’scrust. The movement of the Earth’stectonic plates causes rocks tomove and stretch until thepressure becomes so great thatthey crack.

Geothermal power Powercreated for use in homes or

industry using the Earth’s internalheat. In Iceland, the steam fromseawater boiled by molten lava,1.2 miles below the ground, isused by power stations to heatfresh water for homes, and topower turbines to produceelectricity.

Gorge A valley with steep, rockysides between hills or mountains.Gorges are formed over a longtime by a river cutting down intothe land it flows across.

Graphite A gray form of carbonwhich occurs in some rocks.Graphite has many uses, includingthe writing part of pencils.

Hydroelectric power Thegeneration of electricity for use inhomes and industry using flowingwater. The water is used to driveturbines to power generators.

indigenous Originating oroccurring naturally within acountry or a region. It can referto people, plants, or animals.

Infant mortality rate Thenumber of deaths of infants underone year old in a year. It is ameasure of the quality of life in a country, including health andwealth.

Kaolin A fine, soft white clayused in the production of chinaand porcelain and in somemedicines.

Lava Hot, molten rock expelledfrom a volcano. When the lava isstill inside the Earth it is calledmagma.

Life expectancy The averagenumber of years a person can beexpected to live in a given place.It is a measure of the quality oflife in a country, including healthand wealth.

Lignite A type of soft, browncoal.

GLOSSARYGLOSSARY

61

Guinea 15, 29, 34bGuinea-Bissau 15, 29, 34bGuyana 14, 25, 27bHhabitats

Africa 32a-dAsia 48a-bEurope 40a-bNorth and Central America 21c-dOceania 52c-dSouth America 24b-c

Haiti 14, 16a, 17, 23aHawaiian Islands 9d, 17, 53Himalayas 10b-d, 13, 45a-dHonduras 14, 17, 23aHong Kong 45, 49cHuang He (Yellow River) 10cHuascarán 24b-cHudson Bay 17Hungary 15, 37, 42aIice 56b-c, 57a-bIceland 15, 36b-c, 37, 42a, 56income

Africa 28aAsia 44aEurope 36aNorth and Central America 16aOceania 52aSouth America 24a

independent states 15a-cIndia 14a, 15, 44d, 45, 49cIndian Ocean 11a-c, 13Indonesia

factfile 49cislands 48cmountains 44b-cpolitical maps 15, 45, 53population 14avolcanoes 9b-c

infant mortality rateAfrica 28aAsia 44aEurope 36aNorth and Central America 16aOceania 52aSouth America 24a

Iran 15, 44b-c, 45, 49cIraq 15, 45, 50aIreland 15, 36b-c, 37, 42bIrtysh (river) 10cislands

Africa 28b-cAsia 44b-cEurope 36b-cIndonesia 48clargest 12aNorth and Central America 16b-cOceania 52c-dSouth America 24a

Isle of Man 42b

Israel 15, 45, 50aItaly 15, 36b-c, 37, 42bIvory Coast see Côte d'IvoireJJakarta, population 14a-bJamaica 14, 16b-c, 17, 23aJapan 50a

earthquakes 9cmountains 44b-coil consumption 44dpolitical maps 15, 45population 14a

Java 45Jersey 37, 42bJog Falls 44aJordan 15, 45, 50aKK2 (mountain) 10b-cKanchenjunga 10b-dKazakhstan 11c-d, 15, 44b-c, 45, 50aKenya 15, 28b-c, 29, 34bKilimanjaro (Mount) 28b-c, 29a-bKinabalu 44b-cKiribati 52a, 53, 55aKirinyaga (Mount) 28b-cKosciuszko (Mount) 52c-dKrakatoa 9b-cKuwait 15, 45, 50aKwajalein atoll 52bKyrgyzstan 15, 44b-c, 45, 50bLLa Paz 24dLake Balqash 44b-cLake Baykal 11c-d, 36aLake Huron 11c-dLake Malawi/Nyasa 11c-dLake Michigan 11c-dLake Poopo 24b-cLake Superior 11c-d, 12a, 16aLake Tanganyika 11c-dLake Titicaca 24b-cLake Victoria 11c-d, 28alakes 11c-d

Africa 28aAsia 44b-cEurope 36alargest 12aNorth America 16aSouth America 24b-c

land useAfrica 32c-dAsia 48a-bEurope 40a-bNorth and Central America 21a-bOceania 53c-dSouth America 25a

Laos 15, 45, 50bLatvia 15, 37, 42bleap years 6dLebanon 15, 45, 50bLesotho 15, 29, 34b

Lhotse 10b-cLiberia 15, 29, 34bLibya 15, 28c, 29, 34bLiechtenstein 37, 42blife expectancy 15a

Africa 28aAsia 44aEurope 36aNorth and Central America 16aOceania 52aSouth America 24a

Lithuania 15, 37, 42cLogan (Mount) 16b-cLondon 14a-blongitude 7aLuxembourg 15, 36a, 37, 42cMMacau 44a, 45, 50bMacedonia 15, 37, 42cMackenzie (river) 16b-cMcKinley (Mount) 16b-cMadagascar 15, 28b-c, 29, 34bMadeira (island) 29Madeira (river) 24b-cmagma 8b, 9b-c,d, 10aMakalu 10b-cMalawi 15, 29, 34cMalaysia 15, 45, 50bMaldives 48c, 50bMali 15, 29, 34cMalta 37, 42cMammoth Caves 12aManaslu 10b-cmantle 6b, 8a-d, 10amaps, making 13a-bMarshall Islands 52b, 53, 55bMartinique 17, 23aMatterhorn 36b-cMauna Loa 9dMauritania 15, 29, 34cMauritius 15, 29, 34cMayotte 28a, 29, 34cMediterranean Sea 13Mekong 10aMelanesia 53Mexico 14, 16b-c, 17, 23bMexico City 14a-b, 16aMicronesia (Federated States of) 53, 55bMississippi (river) 10c, 16b-cMissouri (river) 10c, 16b-cMoldova 15, 36a, 37, 42cMonaco 37, 42cMongolia 15, 45, 50cMont Blanc 36b-cMonte Rosa 36b-cMontserrat 17, 23bMoon 6aMorocco 15, 29, 34cMoscow 7c, 36amountains 10a-d

Africa 28b-c

Antarctic 57dAsia 44a, 44b-cEurope 36b-cNorth and Central America 16b-cOceania 52c-dSouth America 24b-ctallest 12a

Mozambique 15, 29, 35aMumbai (Bombay) 14a-bMyanmar (Burma) 15, 45, 50cNNamibia 15, 28d, 29, 35aNanga Parbat 10b-cNauru 53, 55bNepal 10b-c, 15, 45, 50cNetherlands 15, 36d, 37, 43aNetherlands Antilles 17, 24a, 27bNew Caledonia 15, 53, 55bNew Guinea Island 52c-dNew York 7b, 14a-bNew Zealand 15, 52b,c-d, 53, 55bNewfoundland 17Nicaragua 14, 17, 23bNiger (country) 15, 29, 35aNiger (river) 28b-cNigeria 14a, 15, 28c, 29, 35aNile 10c-d, 12a, 28b-cNorfolk Islands 53North America 16–21

physical map 12rivers 10csize 13c-dtime zones 7bwealth 15b-d

North Korea 15, 45, 50cNorth Pole 56Northern Mariana Islands 53, 55bNorway 15, 37, 43aNovaya Zemlya 45, 56Novosibirskiye Ostrova 45OOb (river) 10cocean plates 8c-dOceania 7d, 13, 15b-d, 52–5oceans 11a-d, 12aoil 16b-c, 24d, 28b-c, 36b-c, 44dOjos del Salado 24b-cOman 15, 45, 50corang-utans 48a-bOrizaba 16b-cPPacific Ocean 11a-d, 12, 13, 25Pakistan 10b-c, 14a, 15, 45, 50cPalau 53, 55bPanama 14, 17, 23b, 25Panama Canal 23cPapua New Guinea 15, 52b, 53, 55cParaguay 14, 24a, 25, 27bParana (river) 10c, 24b-cPeru 14, 24b-c, 25, 27b

INDEX

60

AAconcagua 10b, 24b-cAfghanistan 15, 45, 49aAfrica 13, 28–35

lakes 11a-drivers 10csize 13c-dtime zones 7cwealth 15b-dage 14a-b

Alaska 17, 56Albania 15, 37, 41aAleutian Islands 17Algeria 15, 28c, 29, 33aAmazon (river) 10c, 12, 24b-c,dAmerican Samoa 53, 55aAndes 10bAndorra 15, 15a, 37, 41aAngel Falls 12a,b-c, 24aAngola 15, 29, 33aAnguilla 17, 22aAnnapurna 10b-dAntarctica 6b-c, 11a-d, 13, 57Antigua and Barbuda 17, 22aArabian Desert 44aAral Sea 11c-d, 44b-cArctic Ocean 6b-c, 11a-c, 12–13, 56Argentina 10b, 14, 24b-c, 25,27aArmenia 15, 45, 49aAruba 17, 22aAsia 13, 44–51

lakes 11c-dmountains 10b-drivers 10csize 13c-dtime zones 7dwealth 15b-d

Atacama Desert 24aAtlantic Ocean 11a-c, 12–13, 25Australia 15, 52a,b, 53, 55aAustria 15, 37, 41aAzerbaijan 15, 45, 49aBBaffin Island 16b-c, 17, 56Bahamas (The) 17, 22aBahrain 45, 49aBalearic Islands 37Bangladesh 14a, 15, 45, 49aBarbados 17, 22a

Barbuda 17, 22aBelarus 15, 37, 41aBelgium 15, 37, 41aBelize 14, 17, 22bBenin 15, 29, 33aBering Sea 17Bermuda 16a, 17, 22bBhutan 15, 45, 49aBlack Sea 13boabab tree 32c-dBolivia 24b-c, 25, 27aBombay see MumbaiBorneo 44b-c, 45, 48a-cBosnia-Herzegovina 15, 37, 41bBotswana 15, 15a, 29, 33aBrazil 13b, 14, 24a,d, 25, 27aBritish Virgin Islands 17, 22bBrunei 15, 45, 49bBuenos Aires 14a-bBulgaria 15, 37, 41bBurkina Faso 15, 29, 33aBurma see MyanmarBurundi 15, 29, 33aCCaicos Islands 17, 23cCairo 28aCambodia 15, 45, 49bCameroon 15, 29, 33bCanada

Arctic 56coastline 21dfactfile 21alakes 11c-dmountains 16b-coil consumption 16b-cpolitical maps 14, 17size 13b, 16a

Canary Islands 29Cape Verde Islands 29, 33bCaribbean 12, 14, 17, 20, 25Caspian Sea 11c-d, 12a, 13, 44b-cCayman Islands 17, 22bCentral African Republic 15, 29, 33bCentral America 13c-d, 16–23Chad 15, 29, 33bChile 14, 24b-c, 25, 27a, 57Chimborazo 24b-cChina

earthquakes 9bfactfile 49bmountains 10b-coil consumption 44dpolitical maps 15, 45population 14asize 13b

Cho Oyu 10b-ccities 14a-bclimate

Africa 32a-bArctic 56aAsia 48c-dEurope 40a-dNorth and Central America 21a-bOceania 53a-dSouth America 25b-dtemperatures 12a

coasts 11a-b, 12a, 57dColombia 14, 25, 27aComoros 29, 33bCongo (Democratic Republic of) 15,

28b-c, 29, 33b-cCongo (Republic of) 15, 29, 33cCongo (river) 10c, 28b-ccontinents 12–13, 13c-d, 15b-dCook Islands 53, 55aCook (Mount) 52c-dCosta Rica 14, 17, 22bCôte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 15, 29, 33ccountries 13b, 14–15Crete 37Croatia 15, 37, 41bcrust 6b, 8a-d, 9a,b-c, 10aCuba 14, 16b-c,d, 17, 22cCyprus 15, 41b, 45Czech Republic 15, 37, 41bDDamavand 44b-cDanube (river) 36b-cdays 6d, 7c-dDead Sea 48dDeath Valley 16dDelhi 14a-bDenmark 15, 37, 41cdependencies 15a-cdeserts

Africa 28aAsia 44alargest 12aNorth America 16aOceania 52a, 52bSouth America 24a

Dhaulagiri 10b-dDjibouti 15, 29, 33cDnieper (river) 36b-cDominica 17, 22cDominican Republic 14, 17, 22cEEarth 6–7, 12aearthquakes 8–9East Timor 49b

Ecuador 14, 24b-c, 25, 27aEgypt 15, 28c, 29, 34aEl Salvador 14, 17, 22cElbrus (river) 36b-cEllesmere Island 17, 56Equator 6a,b-cEquatorial Guinea 34aEritrea 15, 29, 34aEstonia 15, 37, 41cEthiopia 15, 28b-c,d, 29, 34aeuro 40c-dEurope 7c, 13, 15b-d, 36–43European Union (EU) 40c-dEverest 10b-d, 12a, 44aFFalkland Islands 14, 25, 57Faroe Islands 41cFiji 53, 55aFinland 15, 37, 41c, 56France 15, 36b-c, 37, 41cFrench Guiana 14, 25, 27bFrench Polynesia 53, 55aFuji San 44b-cFutuna Islands 53, 55cGGabon 15, 29, 34aGalapagos Islands 14Gambia (The) 15, 29, 34aGaza Strip 45, 49bGeorgia 15, 45, 49cGermany 15, 36c, 37, 42aGhana 15, 29, 34aGibraltar 36d, 37, 42agorges, largest 12agorillas 32c-dGrand Canyon 12a, b-cGreat Barrier Reef 52bGreat Basin Desert 16aGreat Bear Lake 11c-dGreat Rift Valley 28b-c, 33dGreat Victoria Desert 52aGreece 15, 37, 42aGreenland (Kalaallit Nunaat)

Arctic 56factfile 21bice sheets 16dphysical map 12–13political maps 14, 17size 12a, 16b-c

Greenwich meridian 7a,cGrenada 17, 22cGuadeloupe 17, 23aGuam 53, 55aGuatemala 14, 17, 23aGuernsey 37, 42a

The letters a, b, c, d following thepage number indicate the column(from left to right) where theinformation may be found onthat page.

INDEX

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63

INDEXBahamas (The) 19 M14, 20 F5Bahrain 30 A6, 46 J5Bairiki 54 H4Baki 39 L21, 46 H5Baltic Sea 46 F2Bamako 30 L9Bandar Seri Begawan 47 L13,

54 O4Bangkok 47 K12Bangladesh 46 J11Bangui 30 G11, 46 L1Banjul 30 N9Barbados 20 A9, 26 B7Barents Sea 46 B4Basseterre 20 C7Batan Islands 47 J14Beijing (Peking) 47 H14Beirut 30 D4, 46 I4Belarus 39 G14, 46 F3Belgium 38 H6Belize 19 N12, 20 I7, 26 A1Belmopan 19 N12, 20 I7, 26 A1Benin 30 J10Beograd 46 G2Berlin 38 H9, 46 F1Bermuda 19 L16, 20 C4Bern 38 J7Bhutan 46 J10Bishkek 46 H9Bissau 30 N9Black Sea 39 K16, 46 H3Bogotá 20 F11, 26 C4Bolivia 26 G5Borneo 47 M13, 54 P4Bosnia-Herzegovinia 38 K10,

46 G2Botswana 31 F17Brasília 26 G9Bratislava 38 I11, 46 G2Brazil 20 C12, 26 F7Brazzaville 31 H13, 46 M1Bridgetown 20 B9British Virgin Islands 20 C7Brunei 47 L13, 54 P4Brussels 38 H6Bucuresti (Bucharest) 39 K14,

46 G3Budapest 38 J11, 46 G2Bujumbura 31 E13, 46 M3Bulgaria 39 K13, 46 H2Burkina 30 J9Burma see MyanmarBurundi 31 E13, 46 M3CCairo 30 E5, 46 I3Cambodia 47 L12Cameroon 30 H11, 46 L1Canada 18–19 G11Canary Islands 30 M5Cape Town 31 G19Cape Verde 31 M13

Caracas 20 D9, 26 B5Caribbean Sea 20 F8, 26 A4Caspian Sea 39 K21, 46 H5Cayenne 26 C8Cayman Islands 19 N13, 20 H7Central African Republic

30 G10, 46 L2Chad 30 G8, 46 K2Chile 26 K4China 46–7 I12, 54 P1Chisau 39 J14Colombia 20 F11, 26 C3Comoros 31 B14Conakry 30 M9Congo (Democratic Republic of)

31 F12, 46 M2Congo (Republic of) 31 G12, 46 M1Cook Islands 54 E7Costa Rica 20 H10, 26 B2Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 30 K10Crete 30 F4, 39 N13, 46 I2Croatia 38 K10, 46 G1Cuba 19 M14, 20 G7Cyprus 30 E4, 46 I4Czech Republic 38 I10, 46 G1DDakar 30 N9Damascus see DimashqDenmark 38 F7Dhaka 46 J10Dili 47 N15, 54 N6Dimashq (Damascus) 30 D4, 46 I4Djibouti 30 C9Dodoma 31 D13, 46 N4Dominica 20 B8, 26 A6Dominican Republic 19 N15, 20 E7Dublin 38 G2Dushanbe 46 H8EEast Timor 47 N15, 54 N6Ecuador 20 G12, 26 D3Egypt 30 E6, 46 J3El Salvador 20 I8Ellesmere Island 19 B13Equatorial Guinea 30 I11Eritrea 30 D8, 46 K4Estonia 39 E13, 46 E2Ethiopia 30 C10, 46 L4FFalkland Islands 26 O7Faroe Islands 38 C3Fiji 54 H7Finland 39 B13, 46 D2France 38 J5Freetown (Sierra Leone) 30 M10French Guiana 20 A11, 26 C8French Polynesia 54 B7Futuna Islands 54 G6GGabon 31 H12Gaborone 31 F17

Galápagos (Islas) 20 J11, 26 D1

Gambia (The) 30 N9Georgetown 20 B10, 26 C7Georgia 30 C2, 39 L19, 46 H5Germany 38 H8Ghana 30 J10Gibraltar 38 N3Gilbert Islands 54 H4Great Barrier Reef 54 K7Greater Antilles 20 G7Greece 30 F3, 39 M12, 46 H2Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat)

19 C19Grenada 20 C9, 26 B6Grenadines 20 B9, 26 B7Grytviken 26 O11Guadalcanal 54 J6Guadeloupe 20 B8, 26 A6Guam 47 L17, 54 L3Guatemala 19 N12, 20 J8Guatemala City 20 J8Guernsey 38 I4Guinea 30 M9Guinea-Bissau 30 M9Guyana 20 B11, 26 C7HHaiti 19 N15, 20 F7Hamilton 19 L16, 20 D4Hanoi 47 K12Harare 31 E16Havana 19 M13, 20 H6Hawaiian Islands 18 M2, 54 E1Helsinki 39 D13, 46 E2Honduras 19 N12, 20 I8, 26 A1Hong Kong 47 K14Honiara 47 N20, 54 I6Hungary 38 J11, 46 G2IIceland 19 F22, 38 B3India 46 J9Indian Ocean 46 M8Indonesia 47 N14, 54 O5Iran 30 A4, 46 I6Iraq 30 C5, 46 I5Ireland (Republic of) 38 H2Islamabad 46 I8Israel 30 D5, 46 I4Italy 38 L9, 46 H1Ivory Coast see Côte d'IvoireJJakarta 47 N13Jamaica 19 N14, 20 G7Japan 47 H16Java 47 N13, 54 P5Jersey 38 I4Jerusalem 30 D5, 46 I4Jordan 30 D5, 46 I4KKabul 46 I8Kaliningrad 46 F1

Kampala 31 E12, 46 M3Kanchenjunga 46 I10Kathmandu 46 J9Kazakhstan 46 G7Kenya 30 D11, 46 M4Khartoum 30 E9, 46 K3Kigali 31 E12, 46 M3Kingston 19 N14, 20 F7Kingstown 20 C9Kinshasa 31 G13, 46 N1Kiribati 47 M22, 54 E5Kobenhavn 46 F1Kriti (Crete) 39 N13, 46 I2Kuala Lumpur 47 M12Kuwait 30 B5, 46 I5Kyiv (Kiev) 39 H15, 46 F3Kyrgyzstan 46 H9LLa Paz 26 G5Laâyoune 30 M6Laos 46–7 K12Laptev Sea 47 B15Las Palmas 30 M6Latvia 39 F13, 46 F2Lebanon 30 D4, 46 I4Lefkosia (Nicosia) 30 E4, 46 I3Lesotho 31 E18Lesser Antilles 20 C8, 26 A6Liberia 30 L11Libreville 31 H12Libya 30 H6, 46 J2Liechtenstein 38 J8Lilongwe 31 E15Lima 26 F3Line Islands 54 D5Lisboa (Lisbon) 38 M1Lithuania 39 F12, 46 F2Ljubljana 38 J9Lomé 30 K10London 38 H5Luanda 31 H14, 46 N1Lusaka 31 F15Luxembourg 38 I7MMacau 47 K13Macedonia 39 L12, 46 H2Madagascar 31 B16Madeira 30 M5Madrid 38 L4Majuro 54 H4Malabo 30 I11Malawi 31 D15Malaysia 47 M13, 54 P4Maldives 46 L8Male 46 L8Mali 30 K8Malta 30 H4, 38 N10, 46 I1Maluku (Moluccas) 54 N5Managua 20 I9, 26 B1Manila 47 L14, 54 O3Maputo 31 D17

62

Philippines 15, 45, 51aphysical maps 12–13planets 7a-dPoland 15, 37, 43apolar bears 56a,cpolitical maps 14–15population 14a-b, 15b-c

Africa 28aAntarctic 57dAsia 44aCentral America 16aEurope 36aNorth America 16aOceania 52aSouth America 24a

Portugal 15, 37, 43aprojections 12–13Puerto Rico 14, 16b-c, 17, 23bPunkak Jaya 44b-cPurus (river) 24b-cQQatar 15, 45, 51aQueen Charlotte Islands 17Queen Elizabeth Islands 17Qullai Ismoili Somoni 44b-cRrainforests 24d, 28d, 29d, 48a-bRas Dashen 28b-cRéunion 15, 28b-c, 29, 35aRibbon Fall 16aRichter Scale 8a, 9b-cRio Grande 16b-crivers 10c-d

Africa 28b-cAsia 44aEurope 36b-clongest 12aNorth and Central America 16b-cOceania 52aSouth America 24b-c

Rocky Mountains 12, 16b-c, 21cRomania 15, 37, 43aRussian Federation

Arctic 56factfile 43alakes 11c-dmountains 36b-coil 36b-cpolitical maps 15, 37, 45population 14asize 13b, 36a

Rwanda 15, 29, 35aSsaguaro cactus 16dSahara Desert 12a, 13, 28a, 28dSt. Elias (Mount) 16b-cSt. Kitts and Nevis 17, 23bSt. Lawrence Island 17St. Lucia 23cSt. Pierre and Miquelon 16a, 17, 21cSt. Vincent and the Grenadines 17, 23c

Sajama 24b-cSamoa 55cSan Andreas Fault 21c-dSan Marino 37, 43bSão Paulo 14a-bSão Tomé and Príncipe 29, 35aSardinia 37Saudi Arabia 15, 44c,d, 45, 51aseismic waves 8a, 9aSenegal 15, 29, 35bSerbia Montenegro 15, 37, 43bSevernaya Zemlya 45, 56Seychelles 35bShanghai 14a-bSiberia 13, 44b-dSicily 37Sierra Leone 15, 29, 35bSingapore 15, 45, 51aSlovakia 15, 37, 43bSlovenia 15, 37, 43bSolar System 6d, 7a-dSolomon Islands 15, 53, 55cSomalia 15, 29, 35bSonoron Desert 16dSouth Africa 15, 28c, 29, 35bSouth America 24–7

physical map 12rivers 10csize 13c-dtime zones 7bwealth 15b-d

South Georgia 25, 57South Korea 15, 44d, 45, 51aSouth Orkney Island 57South Pole 57South Shetland Islands 57Southern Ocean 11a-d, 13, 57Spain 15, 37, 43bSri Lanka 15, 45, 51aStanley (Mount) 28b-cSudan 15, 28a, 29, 35bSumatra 44b-c, 45, 48a-csummer 7a-dSun 6b-d, 7a-dSuriname 14, 25, 27cSvalbard 56Swaziland 15, 29, 35bSweden 15, 37, 43b, 56Switzerland 15, 36b-c, 37, 43cSyria 15, 45, 51aTTahiti 53Taiwan 15, 45, 51bTajikistan 15, 44b-c, 45, 51bTanzania 15, 28b-c, 29, 35cTasmania 52c-dtectonic plates 8a-d, 9a, 10aterritories 15a-cThailand 15, 45, 51bTierra del Fuego 25time 6d, 7a-d

Tobago 14, 17, 23c, 25Togo 15, 29, 35cTokelau 53Tokyo 7d, 9c, 14a-bTonga 53, 55ctransport 14b-cTrinidad and Tobago 14, 17, 23c, 25Tugela Falls 28aTunisia 15, 29, 35cTurkey 15, 36a, 43c, 45Turkmenistan 15, 45, 51bTurks and Caicos Islands 17, 23cTuvalu 53, 55cUUganda 15, 28b-c, 29, 35cUkraine 15, 37, 43cUluru 53a-bUnited Arab Emirates 15, 45, 51bUnited Kingdom 15, 36b-c,d, 37, 43cUnited States of America

factfile 21cincome 16alakes 11c-dmountains 16b-coil consumption 16b-cpolitical maps 14, 17population 14a, 16asize 13b

Ural (river) 36b-cUral Mountains 13Uruguay 14, 25, 27cUshuaia 25dUtigard 36aUzbekistan 11c-d, 15, 44b-c, 45, 51cVVancouver Island 17Vanuatu 15, 52a, 53, 55cVatican City 36a,d, 37, 43cVenezuela 14, 24d, 25, 27cVenice 36dVictoria Island 16b-c, 17, 56Vietnam 15, 45, 51cVirgin Islands 17, 23cvolcanoes 8–9, 10aVolga 36b-cWWallaman Falls 52aWallis and Futuna Islands 53, 55cwaterfalls

Africa 28aAsia 44aEurope 36ahighest 12aNorth America 16aOceania 52aSouth America 24a

wealth 15b-dWellington 52bWest Bank 45, 51cWestern Sahara 15, 29wildlife 32a-d, 56a, 57d

Wilhelm (Mount) 52c-dwinter 7a-dworld population 14a-bYYangtze (river) 10c, 44aYellow River see Huang HeYemen 15, 45, 51cYenisey (river) 10cYsyk Kol 44b-cYukon 16b-cZZambezi (river) 28b-cZambia 15, 29, 35cZemlya Frantsa Iosifa 45, 56Zimbabwe 15, 29, 35c

AAbu Zabi 46 J6Abuja 30 I10Accra 30 K11Ad Dahah (Doha) 30 A6, 46 J5Adls Abeba 30 C10, 46 L4Adriatic Sea 38 L10, 46 H1Afghanistan 46 I7Al Manamah 30 B6, 46 J5Albania 38 L11, 46 H2Aleutian Islands 18 H1Alger (Algiers) 30 J4, 38 M6Algeria 30 J5American Samoa 54 F6`Amman 30 D5, 46 I4Amsterdam 38 H7Andorra 38 K5Angola 31 G15Anguilla 20 C7Ankara 30 E3, 39 L15, 46 H3Antananarivo 31 B16Antigua and Barbuda 20 B8,

26 A6Aral Sea 46 G7Arctic Ocean 19 B4, 47 A15Argentina 26 L5Armenia 30 B3, 39 L19, 46 H5Aruba 20 E9, 26 B5Ashgabat 46 H6Asmara 30 C9, 46 K4Astana (Akmola) 46 F8Asunción 26 I7Athina (Athens) 30 F3, 39 M13,

46 H2Australia 54 M8Austria 38 J9, 46 G1Azerbaijan 30 B3, 39 L20, 46 H5BBabuyan Islands 47 J14, 54 O2Baffin Island 19 E14Baghdad 30 B4, 46 I5

MAP INDEX AND GRIDREFERENCES

INDEX

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64

Marshall Islands 54 I3Martinique 20 B8, 26 A6Maseru 31 F18Masqat (Muscat) 46 J7Matterhorn 38 J8Mauritania 30 M8Mauritius 31 L17Mayotte 31 B15Mbabane 31 E18Mediterranean Sea 30 I3,

38 M8, 46 I2Melanesia 54 I5Mexico 18 M10, 20 M6Mexico City 18 N10, 20 L7Micronesia 54 J3Minsk 39 G14, 46 F3Mogadishu see MuqdishoMoldova 39 I14, 46 G3Monaco 38 K7Mongolia 47 G12Monrovia 30 M10Mont Blanc 38 J6Montevideo 26 K7Montserrat 20 D8Morocco 30 L5Moroni 31 C14Moskva (Moscow) 39 F16, 46 F3Mozambique 31 D16Muqdisho (Mogadishu) 30 B11,

46 M5Myanmar (Burma) 46 J11NNairobi 31 D12, 46 M4Namibia 31 G17Nassau 19 M14, 20 G6Nauru 54 I5N'Djamena 30 H9, 46 K1Nepal 46 J10Netherlands 38 G6Netherlands Antilles 20 D9,

26 B5New Caledonia 54 J7New Delhi 46 J9New Zealand 54 I10Newfoundland 19 I17Niamey 30 J9Nicaragua 20 I9, 26 B2Niger (country) 30 I8Nigeria 30 I9Nile 30 E6Niue 54 F7Nocobar Islands 46 L11North Korea 47 H15North Sea 38 F6Northern Mariana Islands

54 K2Norway 38 C8, 46 D1Nouakchott 30 M8Nova Scotia 19 J15Nuku'alofa 54 F7Nuuk 19 F18

OOkinawa 54 N1Oman 46 K6Oslo 38 D8Ottawa 19 J14Ouagadougdu 30 J9PPakistan 46 J8Palau 47 M16, 54 M4Panama 20 G10, 26 B3Panama City 26 B3Papua New Guinea 47 N18, 54 K5Paracel Islands 54 P2Paraguay 26 I7Paramaribo 20 A10, 26 C7Paris 38 I6Parry Islands 18 C9Patagonia 26 N5Peru 26 F3Philippine Sea 47 K14, 54 N2Philippines 47 L15, 54 N3Phnum Penh 47 L12Phoenix Islands 54 F5Plateau of Tibet 46 I10Poland 38 H11, 46 F1Port au Prince 19 N15, 20 F7Port Louis 31 M17Port Moresby 47 N17, 54 K6Port of Spain 20 C9, 26 B7Porto-Novo 30 J11Portugal 38 M1Praha (Prague) 38 I9, 46 G1Praia 31 M13Pretoria 31 E17Puerto Rico 20 D8P'yongyang 47 H15QQatar 30 A6, 46 J6Queen Charlotte Islands 18 H5Queen Elizabeth Islands 18 B9Quito 20 G12, 26 D3RRabat 30 L4Rangoon see YangonRed Sea 46 J4Reykjavík 19 F22, 38 C2Riga 39 F12, 46 F2Riyadh 30 B6, 46 J5Roma (Rome) 38 L9, 46 H1Romania 39 J13, 46 G2Russian Federation 39 E20, 46–7 E8Rwanda 31 E12, 46 M3Ryukyu Islands 47 J16, 54 N1SSahara 30 J7St. Kitts & Nevis 20 B7St. Lucia 20 B8, 26 A6St. Pierre and Miquelon 19 J17St. Vincent and The Grenadines

20 B9, 26 B7Saipan 54 K3

Samoa 54 F6San José 20 I9, 26 B2San Juan 20 D7San Marino 38 K9, 46 G1San Salvador 20 I8San’a’ 30 C8, 46 K5Santiago 26 K4Santo Domingo 19 N15, 20 E7São Tomé & Príncipe 31 J12Sarajevo 38 K10, 46 H2Saudi Arabia 30 B7, 46 J5Senegal 30 M9Seoul 47 H15Serbia & Montenegro 38–9 K11,46 G2Seychelles 31 M15, 46 N6Sicilia 30 H3, 38 M9, 46 H1Sierra Leone 30 M10Singapore 47 M13Skopje 39 L12, 46 H2Slovakia 38 I11, 46 G2Slovenia 38 J10, 46 G1Sofiya 39 K13, 46 H2Solomon Islands 47 N20, 54 I5Somalia 30 C11, 46 L5South Africa, Republic of 31 G19South Carolina 19 K13South China Sea 46–7 L14, 54 P3South Georgia 26 O11South Korea 47 H15Spain 38 M3Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte 46 L9Sri Lanka 46 L9Stanley 26 O7Stockholm 38 E10, 46 E1Sudan 30 E9, 46 K3Sulawesi 54 O5Sumatera 47 N12Suriname 20 B11, 26 C7Suva 54 G7Sverdrup Islands 18 B10Swaziland 31 D18Sweden 38 C10, 46 D1Switzerland 38 J7Syria 30 D4, 39 N17, 46 I4TT'aipei 47 J15, 54 O1Taiwan 47 J15, 54 O1Tajikistan 46 H8Tallinn 39 E13, 46 E2Tanzania 31 D13, 46 N4Tarábulus (Tripoli) 30 H4Tasmania 54 K10T'bilisi 30 C2, 39 L19Tegucigalpa 20 I8, 26 A1Tehrán 30 B4, 46 I6Thailand 47 K12Thimphu 46 J10Tibet (Plateau of) 46 I10Tibilisi 46 H5Tirané 38 L11, 46 H2Togo 30 J10

Tokelau Islands 54 F6Tokyo 47 I17Tonga 54 F7Toshkent 46 H8Trinidad and Tobago 20 C9, 26 B7Tripoli 30 H4Tripoli see TarábulusTunis 30 I4, 38 N8Tunisia 30 I4Turkey 30 D3, 39 M16, 46 H3Turkmenistan 46 H6Turks & Caicos Islands 19 M15, 20 E6Tuvalu 47 N21, 54 H5UUganda 31 E12, 46 M3Ukraine 39 I14, 46 G3Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator) 47 G13United Arab Emirates 46 J6United Kingdom 38 F4United States of America

18–19 K11, 20 M3Uruguay 26 K7Ushuaia 26 P5Uzbekistan 46 H7VVaduz 38 J8Valletta 30 H4, 38 N10, 46 I1Vanuatu 54 J7Vatican City 38 L9Venezuela 20 D10, 26 C5Victoria Island 18 D9Victoria (Seychelles) 31 M14, 46 M6Vienna see WienVietnam 47 K13Vilnius 39 G13, 46 F2Virgin Islands 20 C7WWallis & Futuna Islands 54 G6Warszawa (Warsaw) 39 G12, 46 F2Washington D.C. 20 G2Wellington 54 H10Western Sahara 30 M6Wien (Vienna) 38 I9, 46 G1Willemstad 20 D9Windhoek 31 G17YYamaoussoukro 30 L10Yangon (Rangoon) 46 K11Yangtze 47 I14Yaounde 30 H11, 46 L1Yap 54 M3Yemen 30 B8, 46 K5Yerevan 30 C3, 39 L19, 46 H5ZZagreb 38 J10, 46 G2Zambia 31 F15Zimbabwe 31 E16

INDEX

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