ATLAS 4TH EDITION
ATLAS
LONDON, NEW YORK, MELBOURNE, MUNICH, AND DELHI
2
LONDON, NEW YORK, MELBOURNE, MUNICH, AND ...
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ATLAS 4TH EDITION
ATLAS
LONDON, NEW YORK, MELBOURNE, MUNICH, AND DELHI
2
LONDON, NEW YORK, MELBOURNE, MUNICH, AND DELHI FOR THE FOURTH EDITION Cartographic Manager David Roberts Senior Cartographic Editor Simon Mumford Cartographers Paul Eames, Encompass Graphics Limited Designers Nimbus Design Editors Ben Hoare, Margaret Parrish, Cambridge International Reference on Current Affairs (CIRCA) 3D Globes Planetary Visions Ltd., London Systems Co-ordinator Philip Rowles Production Imogen Boase Art Director Bryn Walls Publisher Jonathan Metcalf Associate Publisher Liz Wheeler FOR PREVIOUS EDITIONS Cartographic Director Andrew Heritage Cartography Roger Bullen, Rob Stokes, Iorwerth Watkins Project Editor Sam Atkinson Art Editor Karen Gregory First published in Great Britain in 2001 by Dorling Kindersley Limited, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL A Penguin Company Fourth Edition 2010 Previously published as the Ultimate Pocket Book of the World Atlas & Factfile Copyright © 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any other means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the copyright owner. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-4053-5039-6 Printed and bound in Singapore by Star Standard Discover more at
www.dk.com
Key to map symbols ELEVATION 6000m / 19,686ft 4000m / 13,124ft 2000m / 6562ft 1000m / 3281ft
DRAINAGE FEATURES River Seasonal river Canal
500m / 1640ft 250m / 820ft 100m / 328ft 0 Below sea level
Mountain Depression
BORDERS Full international Disputed de facto
Lake Seasonal lake
SETTLEMENTS Capital city Major town Minor town Major port
COMMUNICATIONS
Territorial claim
Major road
Cease-fire line
Rail
Undefined State/Province
International airport
Insight; facts, figures, and amazing information from around the world
3
4
Atlas contents
The Political World . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 The Physical World . . . . . . . . 10-11 Time Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Atlas Opener . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15
North & Central America 16–17 Western Canada & Alaska . . . 18-19 Eastern Canada . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21 USA: The Northeast . . . . . . . . 22-23 USA: Central States . . . . . . . . 24-25 USA: The West . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27 USA: The Southwest . . . . . . . 28-29 USA: The Southeast . . . . . . . . 30-31 Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 Central America . . . . . . . . . . 34-35 The Caribbean. . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37
South America 38–39 Northern South America . . . . 40-41 Peru, Bolivia, & North Brazil 42-43 Paraguay, Uruguay, & South Brazil. . . . . . . . . . . 44-45 Southern South America . . . . 46-47
The Atlantic Ocean . . . . . . . . 48-49
Africa 50–51 Northwest Africa . . . . . . . . . . 52-53 Northeast Africa . . . . . . . . . . 54-55 West Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56-57 Central Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . 58-59 Southern Africa . . . . . . . . . . . 60-61
Europe 62–63 The North Atlantic. . . . . . . . . 64-65 Scandinavia & Finland. . . . . . 66-67 The Low Countries . . . . . . . . 68-69 The British Isles . . . . . . . . . . . 70-71 France, Andorra, & Monaco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72-73 Spain & Portugal . . . . . . . . . . 74-75 Germany & the Alpine States . . . . . . . . . 76-77 Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78-79 Central Europe . . . . . . . . . . . 80-81 Southeast Europe. . . . . . . . . . 82-83 The Mediterranean . . . . . . . . 84-85
Atlas contents Bulgaria & Greece. . . . . . . . . 86-87 The Baltic States & Belarus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88-89 Ukraine, Moldova, & Romania . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90-91 European Russia . . . . . . . . . . 92-93
5
Mainland Southeast Asia . . 118-119 Maritime Southeast Asia . . 120-121 The Indian Ocean . . . . . . . 122-123
Australasia & Oceania 124–125 North & West Asia 94–95 Russia & Kazakhstan . . . . . . . 96-97 Turkey & the Caucasus . . . . . 98-99 The Near East & West Bank . . . . . . . . . . 100-101 The Middle East . . . . . . . . 102-103 Central Asia. . . . . . . . . . . . 104-105
South & East Asia 106–107
The Southwest Pacific . . . . 126-127 Western Australia . . . . . . . 128-129 Eastern Australia . . . . . . . . 130-131 New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . 132-133 The Pacific Ocean . . . . . . . 134-135 Antarctica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Arctic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Country Factfiles 138–359 See overleaf for contents
Western China & Mongolia. . . . . . . . . . . 108-109 Eastern China & Korea. . . . 110-111 Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112-113 South India & Sri Lanka. . . 114-115 North India & Pakistan . . . 116-117
Overseas territories . . . . . . 360-365 International organizations . . . 366 Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368-432
6
Factfile contents A
Afghanistan . . . . . . . . 153 Albania . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Algeria. . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Andorra . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Angola. . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Antarctica . . . . . . . . . 158 Antigua & Barbuda . . 159 Argentina. . . . . . . . . . 160 Armenia . . . . . . . . . . 161 Australia . . . . . . 162–163 Austria. . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Azerbaijan. . . . . . . . . 165
B
Chad . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 Chile . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 China . . . . . . . . . 192-193 Colombia . . . . . . . . . 194 Comoros . . . . . . . . . . 195 Congo . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Congo, Dem. Rep. . . 197 Costa Rica . . . . . . . . . 198 Côte d’Ivoire . . . . . . . 199 Croatia . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Cuba . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Cyprus. . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Czech Republic . . . . . 203
D
Bahamas . . . . . . . . . . 166 Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Bangladesh . . . . . . . . 168 Barbados . . . . . . . . . . 169 Belarus . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Belgium. . . . . . . . . . . 171 Belize . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Benin. . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Bhutan. . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Bolivia. . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Bosnia & Herzegovina . . . . 176 Botswana. . . . . . . . . . 177 Brazil. . . . . . . . . . 178-179 Brunei . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Bulgaria. . . . . . . . . . . 181 Burkina . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Burma . . . . . see Myanmar Burundi . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Denmark . . . . . . . . . . Djibouti. . . . . . . . . . . Dominica . . . . . . . . . Dominican Republic .
C
Gabon . . . . . . . . . . . . Gambia . . . . . . . . . . . Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . Germany . . . . . . . . . . Ghana . . . . . . . . . . . . Greece . . . . . . . . . . . Grenada . . . . . . . . . .
Cambodia . . . . . . . . . 184 Cameroon . . . . . . . . . 185 Canada . . . . . . . . 186-187 Cape Verde . . . . . . . . 188 Central African Republic . . . . . . . . . 189
204 205 206 207
E East Timor . . . . . . . . . Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . El Salvador . . . . . . . . Equatorial Guinea . . . Eritrea . . . . . . . . . . . . Estonia. . . . . . . . . . . . Ethiopia . . . . . . . . . . .
208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215
F Fiji. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 Finland . . . . . . . . . . . 217 France . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
G 219 220 221 222 223 224 225
Guatemala. . . . . . . . . Guinea . . . . . . . . . . . Guinea–Bissau. . . . . . Guyana . . . . . . . . . . .
226 227 228 229
H Haiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Honduras . . . . . . . . . 231 Hungary . . . . . . . . . . 232
I Iceland . . . . . . . . . . . 233 India . . . . . . . . . . 234-235 Indonesia. . . . . . . 236-237 Iran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238 Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 Ireland. . . . . . . . . . . . 240 Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
J Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . 243 Japan . . . . . . . . . . 244-245 Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
K Kazakhstan . . . . . . . . Kenya . . . . . . . . . . . . Kiribati . . . . . . . . . . . Korea, North . . . . . . . Korea, South . . . . . . . Kosovo . . . . . . . . . . . Kuwait . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyrgyzstan . . . . . . . . .
247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254
L Laos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Latvia . . . . . . . . . . . . Lebanon . . . . . . . . . . Lesotho . . . . . . . . . . . Liberia . . . . . . . . . . . .
255 256 257 258 259
Factfile contents Libya . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liechtenstein . . . . . . . Lithuania . . . . . . . . . . Luxembourg . . . . . . .
260 261 262 263
M Macedonia . . . . . . . . Madagascar . . . . . . . . Malawi . . . . . . . . . . . Malaysia . . . . . . . . . . Maldives . . . . . . . . . . Mali. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Malta. . . . . . . . . . . . . Marshall Islands . . . . Mauritania. . . . . . . . . Mauritius . . . . . . . . . . Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . Micronesia . . . . . . . . Moldova . . . . . . . . . . Monaco. . . . . . . . . . . Mongolia. . . . . . . . . . Montenegro. . . . . . . . Morocco . . . . . . . . . . Mozambique . . . . . . . Myanmar (Burma) . . .
264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282
N Namibia . . . . . . . . . . Nauru . . . . . . . . . . . . Nepal . . . . . . . . . . . . Netherlands. . . . . . . . New Zealand . . . . . . Nicaragua . . . . . . . . . Niger . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . Norway . . . . . . . . . . .
283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291
O Oman . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
P Pakistan . . . . . . . . . . . 293 Palau . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Panama . . . . . . . . . . . Papua New Guinea . . Paraguay . . . . . . . . . . Peru. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Philippines . . . . . . . . Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . Portugal . . . . . . . . . . .
295 296 297 298 299 300 301
Q Qatar. . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
R Romania . . . . . . . . . . 303 Russian Federation . . . . . 304-305 Rwanda . . . . . . . . . . . 306
S St. Kitts & Nevis . . . . St. Lucia . . . . . . . . . . St. Vincent & the Grenadines . . . . . . . Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . San Marino . . . . . . . . São Tomé & Príncipe . Saudi Arabia . . . . . . . Senegal . . . . . . . . . . . Serbia . . . . . . . . . . . . Seychelles . . . . . . . . . Sierra Leone . . . . . . . Singapore . . . . . . . . . Slovakia. . . . . . . . . . . Slovenia . . . . . . . . . . Solomon Islands . . . . Somalia . . . . . . . . . . . South Africa. . . . . . . . Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sri Lanka . . . . . . . . . . Sudan . . . . . . . . . . . . Suriname . . . . . . . . . . Swaziland . . . . . . . . .
307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328
7
Sweden . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Switzerland . . . . . . . . 330 Syria . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
T Taiwan. . . . . . . . . . . . Tajikistan . . . . . . . . . . Tanzania . . . . . . . . . . Thailand . . . . . . . . . . Togo . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tonga . . . . . . . . . . . . Trinidad & Tobago . . . Tunisia. . . . . . . . . . . . Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . Turkmenistan . . . . . . . Tuvalu . . . . . . . . . . . .
332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342
U Uganda . . . . . . . . . . . 343 Ukraine . . . . . . . . . . . 344 United Arab Emirates. 345 United Kingdom . 346-347 United States . . . . 348-350 Uruguay . . . . . . . . . . 351 Uzbekistan . . . . . . . . 352
V Vanuatu. . . . . . . . . . . Vatican City. . . . . . . . Venezuela . . . . . . . . . Vietnam. . . . . . . . . . .
353 354 355 356
Y Yemen . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Z Zambia . . . . . . . . . . . 358 Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . 359
8
The Political World A
B
C
D Severnaya Zemlya
Svalbard
Franz Josef Land
(Norway)
New Siberian Islands Novaya Zemlya
1
Jan Mayen
RW UNITED KINGDOM
IRELAND
NETH.
2
DE
O N
(Denmark)
N
S WE
DENMARK Faeroe Islands
D FINLAN
AY
(Norway) ICELAND
1 2
POLAND
R U S S I A N
F E D E R A T I O N
ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA BELARUS
UKRAINE 3 5 MOLDOVA KA Z A KH S TA N 4 6 MON G OLIA ROMANIA 7 8 GEORGIA FRANCE UZBEKISTAN 13 119 10 12 BULGARIA ANDORRA 14 KYRGZSTAN ALB. ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN SPAIN PORTUGAL MONACO ITALY MAC. TURKEY TURKMEN. TAJIKISTAN
BELGIUM LUXEMBOURG SWITZERLAND
N. KOREA
AZ. S. KOREA JAPAN SYRIA C H I N A AFGHANISTAN LEBANON BHUTAN IRAQ I R A N NEPAL MYANMAR KUWAIT I ALGERIA L I B Y A JORDAN (BURMA) QATAR PAK WESTERN EGYPT BAHRAIN INDIA SAHARA TAIWAN LAOS U.A.E. (disputed) SAUDI ARABIA Northern Mariana CAPE MAURITANIA OMAN BANGLADESH ERITREA Islands (US) MALI NIGER VERDE YEMEN SENEGAL CHAD DJIBOUTI THAILAND BURKINA GAMBIA SUDAN PHILIPPINES Guam (US) NIGERIA GUINEACAMBODIA GUINEA BENIN BISSAU ETHIOPIA MICRONESIA C.A.R. BRUNEI SRI CAMEROON SIERRA LEONE
ST AN
GREECE TUNISIA MALTA CYPRUS MOROCCO ISRAEL
VI
ET
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
AT L A N T I C
GABON Cabinda (Angola)
OCEAN Tropic of Capricorn
O NG
CO
TOGO LIBERIA GHANA CÔTE D’IVOIRE SAO TOME & PRINCIPE
O
M
ALI
A
N AM
3
ANGOLA
S MALDIVES KENYA RWANDA BURUNDI SEYCHELLES TANZANIA
UGANDA
DEM. REP. CONGO
ZAMBIA MALAWI
ZIMBABWE NAMIBIA BOTS.
4
5
1. Germany 2. Liechtenstein 3. Czech Republic 4. Austria 5. Slovakia 6. Hungary 7. Slovenia 8. Croatia 9. Bosnia & Herzegovina 10. Serbia 11. Montenegro 12. Kosovo (disputed) 13. San Marino 14. Vatican City
A
SOUTH AFRICA
PALAU
MALAYSIA
SINGAPORE
INDONESIA
SWAZILAND LESOTHO
EAST TIMOR
COMOROS
I N D I A N
A U S T R A L I A
O C E A N
French Southern & Antarctic Territories (France)
S O U T H E R N
O C E A N ANTARCT ICA
B
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MADAGASCAR MAURITIUS
MOZAMBIQUE
KEY TO NUMBERS
LANKA
C
D
9 E
F
G
H
A R C T I C Greenland (Denmark)
O C E A N
1
Arctic Circle
Alaska (US)
C Aleutian Islands
(U
A
N
A
D
A
AT LAN T IC
S)
OCE AN 2
P A C I F I C
U N I T E D S TAT E S OF AMERICA
O C E A N
Bermuda (UK)
EX IC
KIRIBATI
ECUADOR
TONGA
American Samoa (us)
New Caledonia (France)
French Polynesia (France)
Equator
SURINAME
BOLIVIA
Pitcairn Islands (UK)
PARAGUAY
CHILE
Tropic of Capricorn
P A C I F I C
SAMOA
EN ARG
CONTINENTAL KEY North & Central America South America
Falkland Islands (UK)
Europe CHILE
NW/SE Asia
South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (UK)
Australasia & Oceania
Africa
Antarctic Circle
E
F
4
URUGUAY
TI
O C E A N NEW ZEALAND
3
B R A Z I L
NA
Niue (NZ)
Tropic of Cancer DOMINICA ST LUCIA BARBADOS ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES GRENADA TRINIDAD & TOBAGO French Guiana (France)
RU
FIJI
CUBA
PE
VANUATU
BELIZE
O
Tokelau (NZ) Cook Islands (NZ)
SOLOMON ISLANDS
BAHAMAS
HAITI GUATEMALA JAMAICA EL SALVADOR COSTA RICA HONDURAS NICARAGUA VENEZUELA PANAMA Galapagos Islands COLOMBIA (Ecuador) GUYANA
MARSHALL Wallis & Futuna (France) ISLANDS Palmyra Atoll (US)
TUVALU
ST KITTS & NEVIS ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
M
Hawaii (US)
NAURU
Puerto Rico (US)
DOM. REP.
Midway Islands (US)
G
H
5
10
The Physical World B
C Franz Josef Land
lps
Da
n ube
Cau ca
Black Sea
sus
Z
Madeira
N
e
il
Red
Tropic of Cancer
l
Angola Basin
dge cRi
nti
d-A
Cape of Good Hope
Mi
So
ut
h
s we
tI
nd
ia
Lena
Sea of Japan (East Sea)
O C E A N dg
Honshu East Kyushu China Sea
Taiwan
South China Sea
Philippine Sea
M
e
So Kerguelen
E a s t Java
I n d i e s New
Java Sea
Guinea
Timor Sea
G
Great Sandy Desert
la Nul
ain rbor Pl
S O U T H E R N
Antarctic Circle
he
Tasmania
as
t I nd
ian R idge
O C E A N ANTARCTICA
A
B
C
g lin
A U S T R A ut
South Indian Basin
5
el a
Malay Peninsula Sri Lanka Borneo Celebes Sumatra
Mauritius Réunion
n
ver
Sakhalin Manchurian Hokkaido Plain
Yan g t z e
layas
Bay of Bengal
I N D I A N
Ri
i
b
ing Range vid Di
tla
mbezi Za
t eser
Cape Basin
Somali
Lake Victoria Basin Kilimanjaro Seychelles 19,340ft (5895m)
Kalahari Desert
Sea of Okhotsk ur
at re
bD
Tropic of Capricorn
4
Nami
OCEAN
G
o
A
n ge Mount Everest s 29,035ft (8850m) Deccan
Arabian Peninsula
Great Rift Valle y Mo zam biq ue C han ne Mada gasc l ar
go
on
Congo Basin
C
ma
Ga
Arabian Ethiopian Sea Highlands Horn of
r Gulf of Guinea
ATLANTIC
Mo lt un ai tai n Shan s n e Ti
ush P l a t e a u o f Y e l l o uK nd H Tibet i
Africa Equator
a
ine lipp Phi lands Is
e
Aral Sea
I
g
h
SA
kon Me
a
ge Ni
S
Cape Verde Islands
Sea
A F R I C A
Kh re b et C her sko go
i Lake Baikal
A
Caspian
Anatolia Sea Mediterr Iranian an ts. ag Plateau ean Sea s M r a l o sM Syrian At ts . Desert S a h a r a
r
Ri
A
Iberian Peninsula
Canary Islands
3
Volg a
b’
e
w
ro
la
b
Ridge
Eu
nP
iO
Ninetyeast
r th
a pe
S
Indu s
No
y
E U R O P E
Bay of Biscay Azores
Ba
Bare nt s Se a
ia
Ural Mountains
North Sea
British Isles
v na
in
an
Iceland
2
di
Sc
D
N orw eg i an Sea
Hi
t
l t i c Se a
rai
en
m
St
k ar
Laptev Sea
K ar a Se a
e Yenis
Arctic Circle
New Siberian Islands
Novaya Zemlya
G reenl an d Sea
1
A R C T I C
Severnaya Zemlya
Am
Spitsbergen
D
Da r
A
D
11 E
F
G
O C E A N
Ellesmere Island Queen Elizabeth Islands
Bea uf o rt Sea
Grand Banks of Newfoundland
We s t I n d i e s
n
d
s
3 Equator
SOUTH AMERICA
Brazil Basin
á
Tropic of Capricorn
4
Pa ra
Pa mp
as
Pa t a g s sa Drak e Pa
Argentine Basin
Falkland Islands
ge
Antarctic Peninsula
G
2
Tropic of Cancer
G C h ra ac n o n
e
Cerro Aconcagua 22,831ft (6959m)
Basin
F
e
n A m a zo Amazon Basin
Tierra del Fuego Cape Horn
E
dg
OCEAN
A
a
East Pacific Rise
i
Pacific
Easter Island
an
Ri
ATLANTIC
a
s
a
Southwest
Peru Basin
tl
ti c
M
Basin
-A
North American
Galapagos Islands
O C E A N
New Caledonia
New Zealand
t s. M
oni
tka
n
e
si
South Island
P A C I F I C
Fiji
Tasman North Sea Island L A S I A
n ia ch la
Caribbean Sea
n
ne Coral Sea
Gulf of Mexico
y
ro a
Solomon Islands
Arctic Circle
Labrador Sea
Great Lakes
Miss issi pp i
ra St
a t R
l
ic
M ou nt ain s
Ha w Isl aiia an n ds
nd
Hudson Bay
AMERICA
ns lai
Coas
o
M
si
P s at a i n n t re s ou ge
M
P
la
1
NORTH
y
No rth we s t P a c if i c Basin
ne
G
Gulf of Alaska
ck
s nd
Great Slave Lake
in s nta ou
Aleutian Isla
(Denali) 20,322ft (6194m)
o
Bering Sea
tM
C Mount McKinley oas
R
Ka mc ha
g
Is
Great Bear Lake
zie en
rin Be
in
Baffin Bay
id
M ac k
Brooks Range
it
Chukchi Sea
Greenland Baff
Ap pa
East Siberian Sea
Mi d-P aci fic
H
South Georgia
South Sandwich Islands
5
Antarctic Circle
H
12
Time Zones A
–2
B
–1
0
+1
C
+2
+3
+4
D
+5
+6
1
0 –3 –1
+7 +7
+1
+8
+9
+10
A R C T I C O C E A N +10
+3 +1 0
+11
+2
+9
+7
+5 +3
0
2
+6
+2 +2
–1 –1
+1
0
+3
+6 +2
0
+8 +7
+4
+8 +9
+10 +11
+8
+61/2 Greenwich Meridian
4
+3
+9
+8 +31/2 +41/2 +53/4 +6 +5 +3 +6 +61/2 +4 +51/2 +7
0
ATLANTIC OCEAN
+10
+5
0
–1
3
+8
+4 +2 +1
+10
+3 +1
+8
I N D I A N O C E A N
+2
+91/2
+10
+5 +5
+5
5 11:00
A
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
B
16:00
17:00
18:00
C
19:00
20:00
21:00
D
22:00
13 E
–11
na l natio Inter line Date
+11
F
–10
G
–9
–8
–7
–6
H
–5
–4
–3
–2 1
0
–4 –3
–1
–9 +12 –10
–8
–7
–6
–5
–4
2
–31/2
P A C I F I C O C E A N
ATLANTIC OCEAN
–11
–5
–10 +12
–4 3
–10
–41/2 Equator
+14
+13
–5 –91/2
+11
+13
–4 –3
–10
–10
–8
+111/2
–6
4
–4
+101/2 +12
P A C I F I C O C E A N
+123/4
–3
–4
–3
–2
5 23:00
24:00
01:00
02:00
03:00
04:00
05:00
06:00
07:00
08:00
09:00
10:00
–3 E
F
G
H
14
The world's regions
15
ian
OCEAN
Sn
Gulf of Alaska
ake
Mount McKinley (Denali) 20,322ft (6194m)
ALASKA(US)
Yuk o n
C A
R o c k y
Lake Winnipeg
D
A
Labrador Sea
E
le
62
ICELAND
Jan Mayen (to Norway)
rc Ci tic Arc
(Denmark)
ad
U
Svalbard (to Norway)
Greenland
or an nti ns e r i u La unta Mo
d
A
Hudson Bay
n
E
Franz Josef Land (to Russia)
br
N
Reindeer Lake
Lake Athabasca
ffi
94
D
Baffin Bay
North Pole
Ba
Queen Elizabeth Islands
OCEAN
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Great Bear Lake Great Slave Lake
Beaufort Sea
le irc cC cti Ar
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an
Is l
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4
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134
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95
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2
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A
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16
North & Central America
NORTH AMERICA
G r e
M o u
C
dr e O
o
s
ac
an
D
GRENADA
Netherlands Antilles (Neth.)
A M E R I C A
S O U T H
Aruba (Neth.)
B
C
Martinique (France)
DOMINICA
E
Equator
48
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
BARBADOS
ST LUCIA
Guadeloupe (France)
ST KITTS & NEVIS ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
British Virgin Islands (UK) Anguilla (UK)
Virgin Islands (US)
Montserrat (UK)
Puerto Rico (US)
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Turks & Caicos Islands (UK)
Sargasso Sea
Bermuda (UK)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
St Pierre & Miquelon (France)
ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
38
Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
PANAMA
NICARAGUA
COSTA RICA
w
HAITI
BAHAMAS
C U BA
hi
Lake Erie
Cayman Islands (UK)
l pa
io
Ap
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Gulf of Mexico
i
r
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Lake Huron Lake Ontario
La
135
1000
nsa
EL SALVADOR
OC E A N 1000
ka
Lake Michigan
Great Lakes
BELIZE JAMAICA GUATEMALA HONDURAS
O
P AC I F IC
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OF AMERICA
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Clipperton Island (French Polynesia)
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n s n
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St
s
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UNITED STATES
r
A
5
P l a e
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Mount Whitney 14,495ft (4418m)
8
7
6
5
NORTH AMERICA
17
NORTH AMERICA
18
Western Canada & Alaska A
B
C
D
97
e rcl Ci
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Wrangel I.
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In 1867 William Henry Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for the price of $7,200,000, which amounted to around two cents per acre (0.4 hectares).
2
A R C T I C
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
1
Bering Sea
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135 Br
St. Lawrence I.
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400
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Queen Charlotte Sound
Port Hardy Vancouver I.
VICTORIA
135 B
Ro
Prince Rupert Queen Charlotte Is.
On July 9, 1958, a massive landslide dropped 40 million cubic yards (30.6 million cu m) of rock into Lituya Bay, creating a wave 1720 ft (524 m) high.
400
JUNEAU
Ketchikan
O C E A N
0 miles
YUKON TERRITORY WHITEHORSE
Gulf of Alaska
P A C I F I C
0 km
ge
Valdez
135
5
Fairbanks
Kodiak Cordova
The Aleutian Islands span some 1200 miles (1800 km) and by crossing the 180º line of longitude, form both the most easterly and westerly extents of the United States. 4
nge
(part of USA)
Anchorage Kodiak I.
Ra
ALASKA
n
Alaska Ran
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Prudhoe Bay
ks
Mt McKinley (Denali) 20,322ft (6194m)
Is la Umnak I. nd s Dutch Harbor
3
ko
oo
C
D
NORTH AMERICA E
F
G
Greenland
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a liz
be
th
Ellesmere Axel Island Heiberg Island
Despite an area of 808,109 sq miles (2,092,993 sq km), the northerly province of Nunavut has only 530 miles (850 km) of roads and highway.
Devon Bathurst I. nd Island Melville S ou ster Island a Resolute L nc a Somerset Viscount Banks Melville Prince Island Island Sound of
Beaufort Sea
Baffin Bay Davi
Baffin
Wales I.
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Inuvik
King William I.
Kugluktuk (Coppermine)
1
(Danish external territory)
s
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64
O C E A N
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NUNAVUT
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3
Southampton I.
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ken
YELLOWKNIFE zie
Great Slave Lake
Hay River
Fort Smith
M
ou
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C
Rankin Inlet
Hudson Bay
Churchill
Fort McMurray
20
4
SASKATCHEWAN M A N I T O B A
A
N
A
ai
Thompson Flin Flon Grande Prairie an Prince EDMONTON tc he w a George Lake sk Prince Albert Leduc Winnipeg Saskatoon Red Deer Kamloops Yorkton WINNIPEG Vancouver Calgary REGINA Brandon Kelowna Lethbridge Estevan Sa
ns
E
QUÉBEC
Lake Athabasca
ALBERTA Fort St. John
D u ba w
M
nt
TERRITORIES
F
DO N T A R I A O Only just over 1% of Canada’s 3.5 million sq miles (9.1 million sq km) land area is devoted to grain production, yet this yields around 25 million tons (tonnes) of wheat every year.
25 G
U S A H
5
NORTH AMERICA
20
Eastern Canada A
B
C
D
Southampton I.
19
Salisbury I. Nottingham I.
Coats I.
1
NU NA VU T
2
Se ver
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A
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James Bay
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N
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A
Akimiski I. (Nunavut)
Cochrane
Lake Superior
North Bay
Lake Huron
Lake Michigan M I C H I G A N
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
B
OTTAWA
Peterborough
Oshawa
TORONTO
Kingston
Lake Ontario
Kitchener NEW Hamilton YORK London Lake Erie Windsor St. Catharines
ILLINOIS
22
wa
ta
Sudbury
Sault Sainte Marie
WISCONSIN
A
Rés. Gouin
Wawa Ot
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world, covering an area of 31,820 sq miles (82,413 sq km).
5
L. Mistassini
Timmins
25
IOWA
Eas tma i n
Q U É
Moosonee
Armstrong
Thunder Bay
MINNESOTA
4
Inukjuak (Port Harrison)
Kuujjuarapik (Poste-de-la-Baleine)
Peawanuck
Wi n i s k
Lake of the Woods
d'Ungava
Belcher Is. (Nunavut)
The Trans-Canada Highway, running from St. John’s in the east to Victoria in the west, is 4990 miles (8030 km) long.
3
Péninsule
The largest hydroelectric complex in Canada at James Bay produces over 16,000 megawatts of power.
MANITOBA
19
Ivujivik Mansel I.
Hudson Bay
INDIANA
O H I O
C
PENNSYLVANIA
D
NORTH AMERICA E
F
G
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64
Akpatok I. (Nunavut)
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e
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PRINCE Bathurst Chicoutimi EDWARD ISLAND NEW QUÉBEC BRUNSWICK Moncton FREDERICTON Trois-Rivières Saint John Sherbrooke MAINE
NEW HAMPSHIRE VERMONT MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND CONNECTICUT
nc e ab
Channel-Portaux-Basques
C
St
ot
St Pierre & Miquelon t (French territorial Sydney collectivity)
St
Cape Race
CHARLOTTETOWN
48
NOVASCOTIA
Dartmouth HALIFAX Yarmouth
4
A T L A N T I C
The Bay of Fundy has the world’s highest tidal range, with water’s rising 20–56 ft (5–17 m) every high tide as around 115 billion tons (tonnes) of water flows into the bay.
F
3
rai
O C E A N
48 E
2
Strait of Belle Isle
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48
Cartwright
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
A r aw
O C E A N
Hopedale Makkovik
Sept-Îles
L. Saint-Jean
Montréal
1
Canada has the world’s longest coastline (including tens of thousands of islands), with a total length of 151,019 miles (243,042 km).
Ungava Bay
B E C
H
L a b r a d o r S e a
on Strai t
D
21
G
0 km
5
300
0 miles
300
H
NORTH AMERICA
22
USA: The Northeast A
B
C
D
20
MINNESOTA
C
L ak e S up e rio r
1
A
O N T A R I O
Superior Ironwood
Marquette Sault Ste Marie Iron Mountain
Ladysmith
2
Cheboygan
Lake Huron
WISCONSIN
25
MICHIGAN
Eau Claire M
is
Green Bay
Traverse City
s is
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La Crosse
pi
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Lake Michigan
MADISON
Bay City
Grand Rapids
Milwaukee
Saginaw
Flint
LANSING
The Chicago River Waukegan Rockford originally flowed into Ann Arbor Lake Michigan, but was Chicago Aurora reversed in 1900 by South Joliet the completion of Bend Rock Island Gary a canal. Galesburg
Fort Wayne
Peoria
INDIANA
ILLINOIS
Muncie
Champaign
SPRINGFIELD 4
25
Decatur
INDIANAPOLIS
ash
W
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Carbondale
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M I S S O U R I
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East St Louis Mt. Vernon
5
Paducah
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30 A
B
Lake Erie
Mansfield Canton Wheeling
O H I O
COLUMBUS
Cincinnati
Bloomington
Louisville FRANKFORT Owensboro
Huntington CHARLESTON
Lexington Richmond
WEST VIRGINIA
KENTUCKY Hopkinsville
Erie
Toledo Cleveland Youngstown Akron
Dayton
Terre Haute
Effingham
Detroit
Ohio
3
Bowling Green
C
London
D
NORTH AMERICA E
21
A
Presque Isle
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V E R M O N T NEW HAM PS H I R E
Burlington
Watertown
1
dy
MAINE
At times of peak flow, around 45 million US gallons (170 million litres) of water plunge over the167 ft (52 m) drop of Niagara Falls every minute. Ogdensburg
NEW BRUNSWICK
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2
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PENNSYLVANIA
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PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND CONNECTICUT
Wilmington
Cumberland
Baltimore
pp a M la ou ch nt ia ai n ns
Arlington
A
VIRGINIA Danville
48
DELAWARE
4
ANNAPOLIS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MARYLAND
The Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, contains nearly 100,000 miles (161,000 km) of telephone cable, enough to go around the circumference of the Earth almost four times.
Newport News Norfolk
0 km
200
5
0 miles
200
31
NORTH CAROLINA E
In 1626, the Dutch bought Manhattan Island from the local Native Americans in exchange for goods worth around US$1000. Today, this would buy around 50 sq in (325 sq cm) of prime New York City real estate.
DOVER Atlantic City
Fredericksburg Charlottesville RICHMOND Chesapeake Bay
Roanoke
3
New Haven New York Long Island
a Allentown pp A HARRISBURG TRENTON NEW JERSEY Gettysburg Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Gu
Utica io ATLANTIC Manchester Lake Ont a r Syracuse BOSTON Rochester ALBANY Worcester Cape Cod O C E A N Buffalo N E W Y O R K Springfield Niagara MASSACHUSETTS
F
G
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NORTH AMERICA
24
USA: Central States A
B
BR I TI SH CO L UM BI A 1
C
D
19
A L B E R T A
WASHINGTON
S A S K A T C H E WA N Havre
Missoula
M O N T A N A
er wd
Sheridan
SOUTH
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Black H i l l s Rapid City
do
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Scottsbluff
Torrington
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NEB
CHEYENNE Ogallala
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s
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27
CA LI FO
Lakewood
DENVER
Aurora
COLORADO Colorado Springs
Pueblo
A r ka n s
as
Durango
A R I Z O N A
RN
5
Dickinson Miles City
Casper
Rock Springs
U T A H
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n or gh s. Bi Mt
The world’s largest known organism is a Great 100 acre (43 hectare) Ogden Salt Lake grove of aspen trees in Utah. Derived from a single tree, it contains SALT LAKE Orem CITY over 47,000 stems Provo and weighs over 6000 tons (tonnes).
N E VA D A
o
WYOMING
3
4
Billings
n a i n t M o u
The Great Salt Lake is a remnant of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville, which once covered almost 20,000 square miles (51,800 sq km) of western Utah.
Bozeman
y c k
I D A H O
Y el l o w s t
Po
Butte
NORTH
ne
HELENA
o
26
OREGON
Minot Williston Fort Peck L. L. Sakakawea Glendive
M i s s o u ri
Great Falls
R
2
Malta
Kalispell
At 20,016 ft (6104 m), or almost 4 miles (6 km) in length, the Fort Peck Dam is the largest earthfilled hydraulic dam in the United States.
IA 28 A
B
N E W
M E X I C O TEXAS
C
D
NORTH AMERICA E
F
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A
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A
1
O N T A R I O
Lake
22
Duluth
Moorhead Fargo
Access to the St. Lawrence Seaway via the Great Lakes makes Duluth the most westerly Atlantic port in the US, some 1100 miles (1770 km) from the Atlantic ocean.
Brainerd
St Cloud
SAINT PAUL
Minneapolis
M
Dubuque
Cedar Rapids
I O W A
Sioux City
RASKA
I L L I N O I S Davenport
DES MOINES
Columbus Council Bluffs
Omaha
M is
sis
Kirksville
si
St Joseph Hays
Kansas City
Independence
TOPEKA
Kansas City
Pratt
4
22
Saint Louis
JEFFERSON CITY
KENTUCKY
MISSOURI
Wichita Springfield Ar ka
ns
Oz
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O K L A H O M A E
i
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K A N S A S Dodge City
pp
3
OHIO
INDIANA
The deadliest tornado in US history struck Missouri on March 18, 1925. Leaving a continuous 219 mile (352 km) track, the tornado crossed three states and killed 695 people.
Burlington
LINCOLN
Hastings
Oakley
AN
Mason City
Missouri
e
IC
IG
Sioux Falls
2
H
W I S C O N S I N Lake Rochester Michigan
Watertown
PIERRE Mitchell
Pl a t t
Su pe r ior
Virginia
Aberdeen
North Platte
20
A
MINNESOTA
Grand Forks
DAKOTA
D
H
Lake of the Woods
DAKOTA BISMARCK
G
25
ark
Pla
teau
A R K A N S A S F
5
TENNESSEE 30
0 km
200
0 miles
G
200
H
4
3
2
Astoria
Aberdeen
Crescent City
Bandon
OLYMPIA
Everett Bellevue
SALEM Albany
Portland
Springfield Bend
Walla Walla
Alturas
Goose Lake
Klamath Falls
Weed
Medford
t s.
D
Great Basin
Twin Falls
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BOISE
24
Hells Canyon is the deepest in the US, with cliffs up to 7993 ft (2436 m) high.
MONTANA
American Falls Res.
Pocatello
Idaho Falls
I D A H O
Hells Canyon
Lewiston
AL BE RTA
E
The Boeing aircraft factory in Everett is the world’s largest building by volume at 472 million cu ft (13.3 million cu m), covering 100 acres (40 hectares).
A
19
D
Coeur d'Alene
Caldwell Nampa
Baker
La Grande
M
Spokane
Burns
Pendleton
Kennewick
Richland
Ellensburg
Vancouver C o l um b i a
Longview
A
C OL U MB I A
N
O R E G O N
Eugene
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B R I TI S H
A
Bellingham
C
C
W A S HYakima I N G T O N
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135
Seattle Tacoma
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USA: The West
NORTH AMERICA
C o a s t
al
The Golden Gate Bridge, completed in 1937, has 80,000 miles (129,000 km) of wire in its two main cables, weighing a total of 22,200 tons (tonnes). Santa Barbara
A
0 miles
0 km
200
e
Visalia
s
Mojave
Long Beach
Barstow San Bernardino
Salton Sea
Lake Mead
D
B
MEXICO
San Diego
32 C
Chula Vista
San Clemente I.
UTAH At Black Rock Desert on October 15, 1997, ThrustSSC, driven by Andy Green, became the first land vehicle to break the sound barrier by achieving a speed of 763 mph (1228 km/h).
do
8
E
7
28
6
5
Death Valley is not only the lowest point in North America, at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level, it is also the hottest, with a maximum air temperature of 134ºF (57ºC) recorded in 1913.
ARIZONA
Las Vegas
Palm Springs
Oceanside
Santa Ana
Riverside
Ely
32
200
San Nicolas I.
Lancaster
Mojave Desert
Pasadena
C h a n n e l Huntington Beach I s l a n d s Santa Catalina I.
Santa Rosa I.
Elko
Death Valley
Tonopah
Mt Whitney 14,495 ft (4418m) -282 ft (-86m)
Bakersfield
Oxnard Los Angeles
g
OCEAN
n
P ACI FIC
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a
135
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Fresno
Bishop
Hawthorne
Lake Tahoe CARSON CITY
Fallon
CALIFORNIA
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V
8
t as C o a n
7
Jo
Salinas
n
i qu
Monterey
Sa
Santa Cruz
Reno
Stockton Oakland Modesto
Yuba City
S
N
San Jose
Berkeley San Francisco
SACRAMENTO Santa Rosa
Ukiah
r
a
6
5
Pyramid Lake Chico
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Susanville
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NORTH AMERICA
27
NORTH AMERICA
28
USA: The Southwest C
UTAH N E V A D A 24 L. Powell The Colorado River has cut down some 6242 ft Pa (2000 m) into the nd Cany o in ra n Colorado Plateau te to form the Grand L. Mead Colorado Canyon, exposing rock strata over Plateau 2 billion years old. Flagstaff
D
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27
Co
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S o n o ra n Yuma D esert
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A R I Z O N A PHOENIX
N E W M E X I C O
Scottsdale Mesa
Roswell Alamogordo
Casa Grande
Artesia
Tucson
Las Cruces
3
Ri
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The first atomic bomb was tested at Trinity Site near Alamogordo on July 16, 1945, yielding an explosive force equivalent to 20,000 tons (tonnes) of TNT from around 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of plutonium-239.
Gr
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135
Carlsbad
El Paso
Douglas
Meteor Crater was formed when a meteor about 150 ft (46 m) across struck the desert at about 40,000 mph (64,372 km/h) creating a bowl-shaped depression 4,150 ft (1,265 m) wide and 570 ft (174 m) deep.
4
os
Albuquerque
Prescott
Glendale
CALIFORNIA
n de
COLORADO
G
1
B
Gra
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5
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PACIFIC OCEAN 200
0 miles
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32 B
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NORTH AMERICA E
F
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29
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25
K A N S A S Ponca City Enid
Tulsa
OKLAHOMA Can
Borger
adian
Amarillo
OKLAHOMA CITY Pampa Norman Red R iv
Clovis
1
Broken Arrow
Shawnee
A R K A N S A S 30
Lawton
2 On January 10, 1901, Vernon the Lucas Gusher blew Paris oil 150 ft (46 m) into the Wichita Falls Lubbock air, flowing at 100,000 Denton barrels a day until it was Brownfield Arlington Longview eventually capped nine Fort Worth Dallas days later. Hobbs Abilene Tyler Br Sweetwater Jacksonville Big Spring Toledo Bend Res. 3 Midland Odessa Waco N e ch Col orado San Angelo Pecos River Red
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Texas City Galveston Freeport
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30
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Port Arthur
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T
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33 G
H
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NORTH AMERICA
30
USA: The Southeast B
C ILLINOIS
25
Fort Smith
Clarksville
Walnut Ridge
Fayetteville
see
OKLAHOMA
K E N T U C K Y
M I S S O U R I
ARKANSAS
Memphis
Te n
1
D
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North Little Rock LITTLE ROCK ka Hot Springs ns as Pine Bluff
TENNESSEE Chattanooga
Ar
Florence
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Texarkana
ita
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Lake Charles
BATON ROUGE
Hattiesburg
Gulfport
Lafayette
Metairie
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Columbus
ALABAMA
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JACKSON
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T E X A S
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MISSISSIPPI
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pi
Monroe
ATLANTA
Columbus
Ya zo o
a
29
Huntsville Gadsden
Ou
2
NASHVILLE Murfreesboro
Dothan
Mobile Biloxi
New Orleans
TALLAHASSEE Pensacola Panama City
Mississippi Delta
4
In August 2005 Hurricane Katrina cut a swath through New Orleans with winds of up to 175 mph (278 km/h). At least 1836 people lost their lives and the area sustained over US$100 billion of damage.
29
0 km
The Mississippi/Missouri river system drains around one-third of the US, covering 1,245,000 sq miles (3,225,000 sq km) including 31 states and two Canadian provinces.
G u l f o f M e x i c o
200
0 miles
200
5
33 A
B
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NORTH AMERICA F
G
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.
E
31
ts
V I R G I N I A
M an
Kingsport
Knoxville
A
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Durham
Ro
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ano
NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte
Cape Hatteras
Fayetteville
Havelock
Spartanburg
COLUMBIA Athens
Wilmington
Florence
SOUTH CAROLINA
Cape Fear
L. Marion
Augusta
Sava
Macon
1
ke
RALEIGH
Greensboro
Asheville Gastonia Greenville
WinstonSalem
nn
Charleston h
a
GEORGIA
Savannah
Albany Brunswick
Valdosta
A T L A N T I C
Jacksonville
Daytona Beach
During the Apollo Space Program NASA launched a total of 13 Saturn V rockets from the Kennedy Space Center. Each rocket was 363 ft (111 m) high, weighed around 3000 tons (tonnes) and generated 7,648,000 lbs (34 MN) of thrust at launch.
Orlando Cape Canaveral Melbourne
Tampa St Petersburg Lake Okeechobee Fort Myers
2
3
O C E A N
FLORIDA
Clearwater
48
The carnivorous Venus flytrap plant, found only on the wet coastal plains of North and South Carolina, can count. It requires two separate stimuli on trigger hairs before the trap is sprung to avoid “false alarms” caused by raindrops, twigs, etc.
48
4
West Palm Beach
The Everglades
Pompano Beach
Grand Bahama I.
Fort Lauderdale Miami Beach
BAHAMAS
Fl
or
id
a
Miami
Key West
E
Fl
Ke orida
ys
St
ra
F
it s
of
5
New Providence Andros I.
36 G
H
NORTH AMERICA
32
Mexico A
Mexicali Tijuana Ensenada
1
Desierto de Altar
B
C
28
NEW MEXICO
ARIZONA
D
Ciudad Juárez
UNITED
Ri o
Gr ande
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Yaqui
135 B
re
200
d
200
A
M
0 km
Durango
en
Gray whales have one of the longest migrations of any mammal, traveling some 12,500 miles (20,000 km) every year from the Arctic Ocean to their winter breeding grounds in the Golfo de California.
0 miles
ra er Si
id Mazatlán
O C E A N
E
cc
Culiacán La Paz
Islas Marías
ta
l
Tepic
Fresnillo Zacatecas
X
Aguascalientes
Guadalajara Puerto Vallarta L. de Chapala
PA C I F I C
5
Torreón
O
a
135
Gómez Palacio
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ni
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Los Mochis
Tropic of Cancer
4
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Ciudad Obregón
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C
3
Large examples of the Saguaro cactus, found in the Altar Desert, can take nearly 150 years to grow to their full height of around 45 ft (14 m), and can hold several tons (tonnes) of water.
Chihuahua
er
Go
a
135
aj
2
Si
B I. Cedros
I. Ángel de la Guarda Hermosillo
Islas Revillagigedo (part of Mexico)
The cliff divers of Acapulco must time their dive from the 148 ft (45 m) cliff at La Quebrada to coincide with the incoming swells to avoid being dashed on the rocks in the shallow inlet.
C
D
NORTH AMERICA E
F
G
33
H
30
STATES OF AMERICA
LOUISIANA
1
TEXAS oG Ri e nd ra
In spring 2001, the Rio Grande stopped flowing into the Gulf of Mexico for the first time in recorded history, allowing illegal immigrants to simply walk into the US.
Nuevo Laredo
36 2
Reynosa
G
Matamoros
M
Saltillo
en
Ciudad Victoria
ta l
San Luis Potosí
Tampico Ciudad Valles Río Verde Dolores Hidalgo Campeche Poza Rica Bahía de Campeche Querétaro Tulancingo Pachuca Xalapa Veracruz MEXICO
Morelia Cuernavaca Uruapan
Sie
It is thought that “The Ballgame,” a ritual sport played by Maya and Aztec civilizations, and a forerunner of volleyball, often ended with members of the losing team being sacrificed. Mérida
B a ls a
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Acapulco
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Puebla
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CITY
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Isla Cozumel
Yucatan Peninsula 34
Villahermosa
Tuxtla
Golfo de Tehuantepec
Cancún
4
B E L IZ E
I
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of Can
ALA
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34 G
HONDURAS
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Monterrey
G
EL SALVADOR H
5
NORTH AMERICA
34
Central America A
B
C
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33
M E X I C O
Belize City U
su
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Flores
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San Ignacio
ta
A
in
GUATE
Cobán
Huehuetenango 2
Quezaltenango
33
M
A
BELIZE
L
Lago de Izabal
Zacapa
Gu l Puerto Barrios
Islas de la Bahía f of H ondur as Puerto Cortés Trujillo
San Pedro La Ceiba Sula
León
Granada
Matagalpa
Juigalpa
Lago de Nicaragua
Rivas
For many years it was thought that the sharks in Lake Nicaragua were a unique freshwater species. However, research has shown that they are in fact Bull Sharks that have swum 120 miles (190 km) up the San Juan River from the Caribbean Sea.
135
Somoto Jinotega
RAGUA
4
Estelí
MANAGUA
O C E A N
San
0 km
A
200
135 B
C
an
SAN JOSÉ
200
0 miles
Ju
Liberia Península de Alajuela Nicoya Puntarenas
The strongest living creature is the Rhinoceros Beetle, found in the jungles of Costa Rica. It can support up to 850 times it’s own body weight, equivalent to a human carrying about 70 tons (tonnes). 5
C oc o
TEGUCIGALPA
EL SALVADOR
Choluteca ca onse o f FChinandega f l Gu Corinto
tu
Juticalpa
CA NI
Santa Ana SAN SALVADOR San Miguel
P A C I F I C
Pa
HONDURAS
Santa Rosa de Copán Comayagua La Esperanza Escuintla
GUATEMALA CITY
3
ca
1
D
NORTH AMERICA E
F
G
35
H
36 The Great Blue Hole in Lighthouse Reef, a submerged cave some 1000 ft (303 m) in diameter and 400 ft (120 m) deep, was originally explored by Jacques Cousteau, co-inventor of the aqualung.
Gr ea HAITI te r A nti lles
JAMAICA
Islas Santanilla (part of Honduras)
C oast
Bajo Nuevo (part of Colombia)
36
2
C a r i b b e a n
Cayos Miskitos
Mos quito
1
S e a
I. de Providencia (part of Colombia)
3
I. de San Andrés (part of Colombia)
Islas del Maíz Bluefields
Each chamber at Gatun Locks on the Panama Canal is 110 ft (33 m) wide and 1000 ft (303 m) long. The locks took four years to build and required 2 million cubic yards (1.5 million cu m) of concrete.
COSTA RICA
40
4
Limón
Cartago
C Colón de ord Ta i ll e lam ra PANAMA CITY anc a David Penonomé Panama Isla del
PA N A M A
Canal
G u lf of Darien
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CO
Santiago Golfo Chitré Go l f o de de C h ir iqu í Las Tablas P a na m á
L
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40 E
F
G
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NORTH AMERICA
36
The Caribbean A
B
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31
Grand Freeport Bahama I. Great Abaco
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Great a n n Exuma I. el
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Santa Clara
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New Providence Eleuthera I.
NASSAU
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at
33
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B
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G u l f UNITED STATES o f OF AMERICA M e x i c o
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Great Inagua
Guantánamo
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Cap-Haïtien Santiago Cayman Islands George Town Gonaïves de Cuba (UK dependent HAITI territory) PORT-AU-PRINCE Montego Bay KINGSTON The Bee Hummingbird, found in Cuba, Jérémie Jacmel is the smallest bird in the world. An adult male measures around 2 inches (5 cm) JAMAICA from beak to tail and weighs about Navassa Island 0.06 oz (1.8 gms). (US unincorporated territory)
3
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A n t i l
C a r i b b e a n
HONDURAS 35
S e a
G
U
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4
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AR
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0 km 0 miles
5
200 200
COLOMBIA
35 A
B
C
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NORTH AMERICA E
F
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37
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48
A T L A N T I C
1
nc er Tr op ic of Ca
O C E A N Milwaukee Deep, which lies 84 miles (135 km) off the north coast of Puerto Rico, is the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean. It is 28,231 ft (8605 m), or just over 5 miles (8 km), below sea level.
Turks & Caicos Islands (UK dependent territory)
48
2
Monte Cristi
L e e British Virgin w a r d Islands (UK dependent Anguilla I s territory) DOMINICAN REPUBLIC l (UK dependent territory) a Road The Valley San Juan Town ANTIGUA Charlotte La Romana Barbuda SANTO & BARBUDA Amalie DOMINGO Puerto Rico Antigua BASSETERRE (US commonwealth ST JOHN'S ST KITTS & NEVIS territory) Montserrat Plymouth Guadeloupe (UK dependent territory) (French overseas Basse-Terre department) The deadliest volcanic eruption DOMINICA ROSEAU of the 20th century took place on Martinique May 8, 1902, when Mount Pelee Fort-de-France (French overseas erupted on Martinique, killing department) ST LUCIA 30,000 people, around 15% CASTRIES of the island’s population. Puerto Plata
Santiago
Virgin Islands (US unincorporated territory)
n
3
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48
4
d
ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
er A ntilles
VENEZUELA E
ST GEORGE'S
Tobago
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
5
PORT-OF-SPAIN
41 F
BRIDGETOWN
GRENADA
nds
Netherlands Antilles (autonomous part of Netherlands) Isla de Margarita
BARBADOS
KINGSTOWN
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Oranjestad Willemstad
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L Aruba (autonomous part of Netherlands)
G
San Fernando
H
4
3
2
at
er lles
Chimborazo 20,702ft (6310m)
Ma
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N
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s
Içá
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COLOMBIA
ca
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17
Hispa
Anti
Caribbean Sea
ECUADOR
Equator
17
re
Jamaica
G
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(claimed by Venezuela)
T r inidad
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48
D
I
Planalto de Mato Grosso
L
OCEAN
ATLANTIC
French VENEZUELA Guiana GUYANA G (France) u i a n SURINAME a H i g h l a n d s
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49
ão F r a n
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s
Planalto da Borborema
E
Represa de Sobradinho
S
4
3
2
1
38
South America
SOUTH AMERICA
co
al
8
7
6
5
135
A
C
Cerro Ojos del Salado 22,572ft (6880m)
Cerro Aconcagua 22,835ft (6959m)
p
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P a ra n
Dr a
á
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(UK)
Plat a
South Georgia (UK)
1000
OCEAN
136 D
B
South Sandwich Islands (UK) South Orkney Islands
0 miles
0 km
E
49
1000
Tropic of Capricorn
ATLANTIC
136 C
Scotia Sea
East Falkland
Lagoa dos Patos
r Ma do rra e S
Mirim Lagoon
URUGUAY
Ne g r
ay
Falkland Islands
e ag as s ke P
Cape Horn
Tierra del Fuego
West Falkland
Bahía Grande
South Shetland Islands
co
De s Gulf of San Jorge ead o
hi
ma
Col o R ío r a d o Bahía Blanca Ne gr o Golfo San Matías
m Pa
ANT ARC TI CA
Strait of Magellan
Isla de Chiloé
Islas Juan Fernández (Chile)
OCEAN
PACIFIC
H
Isla San Ambrosio (Chile) Isla San Félix (Chile)
I
L
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Atacama Desert
C
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Tropic of Capricorn
8
7
6
5
SOUTH AMERICA
39
SOUTH AMERICA
40
Northern South America A
B
Lesser Gulf of Ríohacha Coro Venezuela Santa Marta Maicao Barranquilla CARACAS Maracaibo Valledupar Cartagena Maracay Cabimas
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Ma g
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Ca
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2
35
A pu
A rau c a Bucaramanga Barrancaberneja
Bello Medellín
Itagüí
Quibdó
PA C I F I C
Valencia Acarigua Valera Juan Mérida Guanare de losSan Morros an a r e Barinas Cúcuta L San Cristóbal Gu
P
Ciudad Ojeda Lago de Barquisimeto Maracaibo
Sincelejo Montería
AMA AN
D
36
Caribbean Sea
1
C
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e
M
B
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OCE
Neiva
Equator
Portoviejo Guayaquil Golfo de Guayaquil
Ambato Riobamba Milagro
Cuenca Machala Loja
5
U EC
A
P ER U
Ne
qu
et
P u t u mayo
Nestling between snow capped peaks, at 9350 ft (2850 m) Quito is the second highest capital in the world.
The first coffee seedlings were brought to Colombia in 1804 by Jesuit missionaries; today, Colombia produces over 700,000 tons (tonnes) of coffee beans every year.
42 A
B
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Santo Domingo de los Colorados
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Mitú
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A
QUITO
135
A gu
D
4
Tulcán
Ibarra
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O
n
Florencia Mocoa
Pasto Esmeraldas
San José del Guaviare
A G uav
o
Popayán
I
M
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3
VENE
Puerto Carreño
Yopal
Manizales Pereira BOGOTÁ AN Armenia Ibagué Buenaventura Villavicencio Cali
San Fernando
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Arauca
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Tunja
l
C
D
SOUTH AMERICA E
F
Antilles
GRENADA
37
n
o
Tucupita
s Or
inoc
o
ZUELA Cau
a
Ciudad Guayana
Embalse de Guri
(claimed by Venezuela)
Cuyu n
Nieuw
i
r
í
Pa
on
GUYANA
ra gu
Cour
an ty
Ac
A m a z o n
B
R
A
Z
CAYENNE
French Guiana
(French overseas department)
ne
Angel Falls (Salto Ángel) ar plunge a total ai M ts. of 3212 ft (979 m) to form the world’s (claimed by highest waterfall. Suriname)
I
2
Sinnamary Kourou
W.J. van Blommesteinmeer
SURINAME
E ss eq u i b o
a
G u i a n a H i g h l a n d s
O r ino c o
49
GEORGETOWN Amsterdam New Amsterdam St.-LaurentBartica du-Maroni PARAMARIBO Rockstone Linden
Salto Ángel
Car
1
The Guiana Shield is one of the Earth’s oldest surfaces, formed around 2 billion years ago.
th ou M
Barcelona Maturín
Ciudad Bolívar
A T L A N T I C O C E A N
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
The S erpe nt' s
a r o wijne
Isla de Margarita Carúpano
El Tigre
H
3
M
Cumaná
a
G
41
(claimed by Suriname)
The European Space Agency launch facility at Kourou takes advantage of the Earth's spin near the Equator equator to gain 10 percent more payload than an equivalent launch at Cape Canaveral in the US.
L
4
43
B a s i n 2.47 acres (one hectare) of Amazon rain forest can contain more than 750 types of trees and 1500 plant species, amounting to around 900 tons (tonnes) of living plant material.
0 km
200
0 miles
200
43 E
F
G
H
5
SOUTH AMERICA
42
Peru, Bolivia & North Brazil A
B
C
C O L O M B I A 0 km
400
Boa Vista
0 miles
lands
400
Rio Ne g r o
Equ ator Ama zo
o
Iquitos
Manaus a
B a s i n
Pucallpa Huaraz Huánuco La Oroya
Rio Branco
135
PACIFIC OCEAN
Huancayo Ayacucho
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LA PAZ Cochabamba Montero Santa Cruz Oruro Puerto Suárez SUCRE Lago Poopó Potosí Tupiza Tarija
RA
GU
Y
A
B
Gu
Lake Titicaca
E
46
Riberalta
PA
administrative capital legal capital
os
B O L IV I A
CHIL
La Paz - legislative and
Di
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Puno
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BOLIVIA'S TWO CAPITALS
A
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Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America at 3220 sq miles (8340 sq km). Tacna With an altitude of 12,500 ft (3810 m) it is also the world’s highest navigable lake.
5
r
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3
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135
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40 1
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ARGENTINA C
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SOUTH AMERICA E
F
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(French overseas department)
E
The Amazon River is 4049 miles (6516 km) long, with an average flow of 7.7 million cubic feet (219,000 cu m) of water entering the Atlantic Ocean every second.
ATLANTIC
Ilha Caviana de Fora Ilha de Marajó
Belém
zon Ama
São Luís
Santarém s
ajó
Ta p
Xin
Imperatriz
Sa
Represa de Sobradinho
Taguatinga
Mato Grosso
Anápolis Goiânia
o Fran c
is
Recife
co
3
Juàzeiro
Maceió Aracaju
Feira de Santana
Salvador Itabuna
BRASÍLIA
Highlands Montes Claros
2
Natal João Pessoa
Campina Grande
Brazilian Cuiabá
49
Mossoró
Juàzeiro do Norte
A ra
s
To c a n t i
ire
gu a
sP
ia
ns
L
Equ ato r
San Fernando de Noronha (part of Brazil)
Teresina
gu
Carolina
I
1
OCEAN Paranaíba
Fortaleza
Represa de Tucuruí
Z Te l e
H
48
French Guiana
Macapá
43
49
Vitória da Conquista
4
Governador Valadares
ra
ná
Uberlândia Uberaba Belo Horizonte Divinópolis Campo Vitória Ribeirão Preto Grande Campos Nova Marília Campinas Iguaçu Juiz de Fora Londrina Sorocaba Taubaté Rio de Janeiro 44 São Paulo Pa
5
E
F
G
Tropic of Capri
corn
H
SOUTH AMERICA
44
Paraguay, Uruguay & South Brazil A
B
C
42
B
c
o
BOLIVIA
R
A
a
1
C
h
São José do Rio Preto Campo Grande
General Eugenio A. Garay
a ar
Bauru Ourinhos
Concepción
Ciudad del Este
ug
ay
Erechim
Florianópolis Lajes
Carazinho São Borja Caxias
Passo Fundo do Sul e
Ur
Blumenau
Pelotas
Uruguaiana
S
Santa Maria
Canoas Porto Alegre
Artigas
4
Rivera
46
Salto
Bagé
Lagoa dos Patos
Pelotas
Tacuarembó
gr
o
ARGENTINA
Ne
Paysandú
Melo
URUGUAY
Fray Bentos Mercedes Trinidad 5
A
B
Río
Rio Grande Mirim Lagoon
Chuy
Durazno
MONTEVIDEO 46
M a r
Joinville
á r Pa Encarnación
Pilar
u
Curitiba
Iguaçu
Caazapá San Juan Bautista
The Itaipú hydroelectric project is able to produce more power than 10 average nuclear reactors; it supplies 19% of the electrical power consumption of Brazil and 90% for Paraguay.
Ponta Grossa Guarapuava
Villarrica
Lambaré
do
Coronel Oviedo
an
Formed by river deposits washed down from the Andes and Brazilian Shield, the Gran Chaco is virtually free of stones. It is composed of sand and silt sediments that are up to 10,000 ft (3050 m) thick.
Londrina
Maringá
a gu a y
yo
ra
Pozo Colorado Pi lco ma
ASUNCIÓN
3
P
Pa r
Tropic of Capricorn
Presidente Prudente Marília
ná
Dourados
r
G
r
a
n
Fuerte Olimpo
Mariscal Estigarribia
PARAGUAY
46 2
D
Las Piedras San Carlos
de la Pla ta
C
D
SOUTH AMERICA E
F
Uberlândia
Z Uberaba Rio
Gr
an
Franca
de
I
G
H
43
Governador Valadares
L
45
1
Belo Horizonte Divinópolis
Vitória
Represa de Furnas
Ribeirão Preto Cachoeiro de Itapemirim Juiz de Fora Campos Volta Redonda Nova Iguaçu Campinas Sorocaba Taubaté São Paulo
49
Rio de Janeiro
2
Tropic of Ca
pricorn
Santos
The famous statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), built on top of the 2300 ft (700 m) Corcovado Mountain in 1931, stands 100 ft (30 m) tall and weighs 700 tons (tonnes). The population of greater Sao Paulo is close to 22,000,000, over twice the entire population of Portugal, the country that originally colonized Brazil in the 16th century.
3
A T L A N T I C O C E A N 49
Lagoa dos Patos is the largest lagoon in Brazil and the second largest in South America. The lagoon is 180 miles (290 km) long and up to 40 miles (64 km) wide, with an area of more than 3900 sq miles (10,100 sq km).
0 km
4
400
0 miles
400
5
49 E
F
G
H
4
3
2
1
Islas Juan Fernández (to Chile)
Calama
Cerro Aconcagua 22,831ft (6959m)
ay
Gran C h a c o Be
o
rm
P A R
A
G
U
A
Y
La Rioja
Vera Laguna Mar Chiquita
ay
Linares
Santa Rosa
Olavarría
Azul
A R G E N T I N A
Chillán
44
Tropic of Ca pricorn
B
ío d e la Plata Dolores
R
e jo San Miguel Formosa de Tucumán P a ran á Resistencia Santiago Corrientes Posadas del Estero
Salta
San Salvador de Jujuy
B OLIVIA Chuquicamata
R
E
One of the world’s largest copper mines at Chuquicamata has produced around 29 million tons (tonnes) of copper over its 90-year history. The huge opencast pit is 2.6 miles (4.3 km) long, 2 miles (3 km) wide, and over 2788 ft (850 m) deep.
B
San Juan Illapel Concordia Córdoba Santa Fe Paraná La Ligua Mendoza Rosario URUGUAY Viña del Mar Río Godoy Cruz Valparaíso Cuarto Gualeguaychú SANTIAGO San Antonio Junín Rancagua Villa Mercedes BUENOS AIRES Pilchilemu Pampas La Plata Talca Curicó R
Coquimbo
La Serena
CHILE
Vallenar
Copiapó
Chañaral
Antofagasta
Tocopilla
Iquique
Talcahuano
pricorn Tropic of Ca
135
OCEAN
PACIFIC
Arica
44 The driest place on Earth is the Atacama Desert in Chile, with an average rainfall of 0.004 inches (0.1 mm) per year. Until recently, some places had received no rain for over 400 years.
n
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42
D
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Desierto de Atacama
A
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46
Southern South America
SOUTH AMERICA
8
A
400
OCEAN
Viedma
do
Rawson
D
B
C
136
Cabo de Hornos (Cape Horn)
Ushuaia
Stanley East Falkland
(UK dependent territory)
Falkland Islands
E
49
A group of 150 Welsh settlers arrived in Patagonia on July 28, 1865, seeking a new life away from cultural and religious oppression in the UK. Today the area has one of the largest Welsh populations outside of Wales.
O C E A N
A T L A N T I C
The Strait of Magellan was named after Ferdinand Magellan, who passed through the straits during the first circumnavigation of the globe in 1520. Of the five vessels and 237 men that set out, only one ship and 18 survivors returned to Spain after the three-year voyage. Magellan himself was killed in the Philippines.
West Falkland
Puerto San Julián
Puerto Deseado
Mar del Plata Necochea
136
400
a
Tierra del Fuego
Porvenir
Strait of Magellan
se
o
Península Valdés
gr
ora
Ne
ol
Bahía Blanca
Tres Arroyos
Comodoro Rivadavia Caleta Olivia
Trelew
Río Gallegos
De
Lago Musters
Punta Arenas
Puerto Natales
PACIFIC
0 miles
0 km
135
El Calafate
Isla Wellington
Ch
do
7
Esquel
Archipiélago de los Chonos Puerto Aisén Coihaique Lago Buenos Aires Chile Chico Cochrane
Castro Isla de Chiloé
Osorno Puerto Montt
Río
C
Bahía Blanca
San Antonio Oeste San Carlos de Bariloche
Neuquén
ut
6
5
Temuco Valdivia
And
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ub
Pat a g on ia
Concepción Lebu
8
7
6
5
SOUTH AMERICA
47
4
3
2
1
Da
Baffin Bay
a n d B a n k s Newfoundland Basin
Caribbean Sea
Sargasso Sea
Bermuda (UK)
t ra kS
it
Canary Is. (Spain) ary an in as
Madeira (Portugal)
CAPE VERDE Ca pe V er de Basin
i
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a
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la At
Gibraltar
Azores (Portugal)
Ba
av
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ia
a
an
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Lake Chad
Black Sea
Tropic of Cancer
Port Said
Sea
anu
ea n
D
A F R I C A
h
ps
M edite
Al
94
Arctic Circle
Barents Sea
E U R O P E
Rotterdam
North Sea
Faeroe Is. (Denmark)
Jan Mayen (Norway)
Svalbard (Norway)
E
Re
Cristóbal
Tropic of Cancer
Gulf of Mexico
Gr
ar
137
D
Greenland Sea
OC E AN
C
The North Atlantic Deep Water Current is an oceanic “river” that moves around 20 million cubic yards (15.3 million cubic m) of water every second.
(Denmark)
Greenland
AR C T I C
The Gulf Stream travels across the Atlantic Ocean at up to 135 miles (217 km) a day.
New York
AMERICA
137
B
Labrador Sea
vis
Great Lakes St Lawrence
NORTH
Hudson Bay
16
Arctic Circle
pi
M i s s i ssip
nm De
n
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an
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ti c
R
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t
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4
3
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1
48 OCEANS
The Atlantic Ocean ea dS
8
A
en
t
B
136
An
go
St Helena (UK)
Ascension Island (St Helena)
C
Cape Basin
ge
Tristan da Cunha (St Helena) Gough Island (Tristan da Cunha)
South Sandwich Is. (UK)
2000
C
Weddell Sea
0 miles
Lagos Gulf of Guinea
136
2000
Cape Town
Antarctic Circle
ian Basin
123
D
E
A N T A R C T I C A
Atlantic-Ind
ic Atlant Bouvet Island (Norway)
Equator
Tropic of Capricorn
Lake Nyasa
Lake Victoria
Cape of Good Hope
go on
In 2001, the Caledonian Star was damaged by a 100 ft (30 m) “rogue wave” in the South Atlantic. Once thought to be a ge mythical occurrence, these giant waves are now a id R recognized phenomenon and represent a major n a di hazard to even the largest ships. -In
as ine B in
Scotia Sea
0 km
Ilha da Trindade (Brazil)
Brazil Basin
Rio Grande Rise
South Georgia (UK)
Falkland Is. (UK)
rg
Rio de Janeiro
Buenos Aires
Cape Horn
Be l l i n gs h a u s e n Sea
135
OCEAN
PACIFIC
s
Fernando de Noronha (Brazil)
lantic Ridge d-At Mi
7
6
Tropic of Capricorn
e
n
S O U T H A M E R I C A
An d e s
5
Am a zo
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aná
A
A T L A N T I C O C E A N
vis
d Wal
sin Ba
la
An Ri d
Equator
8
7
6
5
OCEANS
49
Madeira
S
a
Equator
P E
r
h
r
ig
er
Y
A
C H A D
Tibesti
a
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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC U ele C on g o
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TOGO
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S u d d
S U D A N
E G Y P T
eN
EQUATORIAL GUINEA Guinea SAO TOME & PRINCIPE
N
l
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e
N I G E R
a
I
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Gulf of
ge
BURKINA
a
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
S
Ni
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L
L i b y a n D e s e r t
S e a
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A 94
en
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Lake Turkana
She
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recognized)
SO
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ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian (not internationally
SOMALILAND
d fA DJIBOUTI G u l f o
ERITREA
Peninsula
Arabian
Tropic of Cancer
uca
S
Ca
S y r i a n De se r t
A
Black Sea
63
D
W
( I VO R Y LIBERIA C O AS T )
SIERRA LEONE
SENEGAL GAMBIA GUINEABISSAU GUINEA
S e n eg
a
Ahaggar
A L G E R I A
as Atl
MAURITANIA
Tropic of Cancer
WESTERN SAHARA (disputed)
(Spain)
Islas Canarias
(Portugal)
U
O
M e d i t e Sicily Ceuta Melilla (Spain) r r s (Spain) n a n ai TUNISIA t e a MOR OC C O o u n n M
E
R
C
le
4
3
2
48
Ib e r ia n Pe ni ns u la
ATLANTIC OCEAN
62
B
BE NI N
1
l
Ni
M
A
B lu e
GHANA
a S e
Equator
LI
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R e d
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ian rs f Pe Gul
CA M
an S e a
GO
spi
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Ca
A
4
3
2
1
50 AFRICA
Africa
A
0 miles
0 km
1000
ZIMBABWE
D
E
OCE AN
I NDI AN
SWAZILAND LESOTHO
B
S OUT H AF R I C A
r
Lake Nyasa COMOROS Mayotte (France)
MALAWI
Za mb ez i
136 C
tV a
136
1000
Gough Island (Tristan da Cunha)
Tristan da Cunha (St Helena)
Cape of Good Hope
rt
8
49
O CE A N
O r a n g e Ri ve
Kilimanjaro 19,341ft (5895m)
TANZANIA Lake Tanganyika
ZAMBIA
BOTSWANA Kalahari Desert
NAMIBIA
Bi é Pl a t e a u
ANGOLA
Dese
AT L AN T IC
Tropic of Capricorn
St Helena (UK)
Ascension I. (St Helena)
mib
7
6
5
Cabinda (Angola)
N O
Lake Victoria
BURUNDI
RWANDA
R
DEM. REP. CONGO
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Q
BI M
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123
Tropic of Capricorn
GAS
Grea if
MAD A
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8
7
6
5
AFRICA
51
AFRICA
52
Northwest Africa A
B
D
SPAIN
74
ATLANTIC OCEAN
1
C
ALGIERS
On March 27, 1977, two Boeing 747s collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport on Tenerife with the loss of 583 lives, making this the world’s worst ever air disaster. Madeira (Portugal)
2
48
Essaouira
(Spain) Tenerife Gran Canaria
Mellal
a
Ghardaïa
Béchar d
A
L
G
E
I-n-Salah
The region of Tidikelt in Algeria once went for 10 years without a drop of rain.
Ad Dakhla
S
a
h
48 The Sahara Desert is one of the harshest environments on Earth. With an area of around 3,500,000 sq miles (9,000,000 sq km), roughly the same as Europe, it has a population of only around 2 million people compared to Europe’s population of 731 million people.
MAURITANIA 5 0 km
M A L I
400
0 miles
400
A
l
Reggane
(disputed territory under Moroccan occupation)
Lagouira
g
ta
R
Tindouf
WESTERN SAHARA
4
r
Tan-Tan
Smara
Tropic of Can cer
E
n n ra de G ci Oc
Lanzarote Fuerteventura
LAÂYOUNE
3
Atl
Er Rachidia Marrakech Agadir M O R O C C O
Islas Canarias La Palma
Mostaganem
Ceuta (Spain) Blida Tanger Oran Tetouan Melilla Sidi Bel (Spain) Abbès Kénitra Fès RABAT Oujda Tlemcen n s i Casablanca ta Khouribga u n Laghouat o Safi Benis M Figuig
56 B
C
D
AFRICA E
F
G
I T A L Y
Kairouan
87
G R E E C E
1
Crete
MALTA
Constantine Sousse Sétif
H
Sicily
Bizerte TUNIS
Annaba
53
Mediterranean
Batna
The hottest place on earth is Al ‘Aziziyah, Libya, where on September 13, 1922, an air temperature of 136ºF (57ºC) was recorded. Darnah Al Bayçá’ ◊ubruq Banghází Al Marj Al Khums 54 Mi∞rátah Gharyán Khalíj Surt Yafran Ajdábiyá Surt
Sea Sfax Zuwárah Chott Gabès Az Záwiyah Melghir Tozeur TRIPOLI Médenine TUNISIA
Touggourt Ouargla rg E l nd ta a n r G rie O
I
Great Sand Sea
L
A
I
Y
A
Birák Sabhá
Awbárí
Tass
B
Murzuq
ili
-n
L
i
b
y
a
3
n Al Kufrah
-A
jj
er
a
Ahaggar
Tropic
r
a
D
e
s
e
r
c of Can
er
t 54
b Ti
Tamanrasset
2
E G Y P T
Gafsa Biskra
4
esti
Libya has the largest proven oil reserves in Africa, estimated at 41.5 billion barrels in 2008. With production running at around 1.8 million barrels per day, these reserves are expected to last for another 60 years.
N
I
G
E
R
C H A D
5
58 E
F
G
H
Sinai
Hurghada
D
Nyala
El Geneina
a
r
D
N
Port Sudan
Atbara
A
an
Dilling
El Obeid il Blue N
Buré
Desé
Mek’elé
Ethiopian
Gonder
Himora
ASMARA
Mits’iwa
ERITREA Teseney
Bahir Dar
Omdurman Kassala KHARTOUM Wad Medani Gedaref
Kadugli
El Fasher
r
U
le
bi
sert
(administered by Sudan)
ea
fu
S
Dongola
u
De
Lake Nasser (administered by Egypt)
si
Gulf
of Boosaaso DJIBOUTI Berbera SOMALILAND
DJIBOUTI
‘Aseb
Y E M E N
A R A B I A
S A U D I
Ad
en
Tropic of Cancer
102
When first opened in 1869, the Suez Canal consisted of a channel 26 ft (8 m) deep and 200 to 300 ft (60 to 90 m) wide at the surface. Construction involved the excavation and dredging of 97 million cubic yards (74 million cubic metres) of material.
I R A N
E
an G ul For thousands of years the Nile has supported f cultivation in the Aswan region, despite it being one of the driest places on Earth, with an average of only 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) of rain per year.
S
4
3
Suez Canal
As Suways (Suez) Baní Suwayf
Wadi Halfa
102
S Y R I A
I R A Q
D
AN JORD (Port Said)
Sawháj Qiná Al Uq∞ur (Luxor) L i b y a n Isná Al Khárijah Idfú D e s e r t Tropic of Cancer Aswán
53
CHAD
C
Al Ismá’ílíya
Búr Sa’íd
ISRAEL
LEBANON
E G Asyúπ Y P T
Al Minyá
(Giza)
N
2
L I B YA
-436ft (-133m)
Munkhafaç al Qaœœárah
Nile Delta
CAIRO Al Jízah
(Alexandria)
Al Iskandaríyah
Mediterranean Sea
CYPRUS
87
B
il e
i
1
A
N
R ed
N
er
i te N ile
P
Wh
4
3
2
1
54
Northeast Africa
AFRICA
e
59
Equator
Arua
Juba Gulu
KAMPALA
Mbale
Ri
Mbeya
ea
t
ZAMBIA
O
C
0 miles
0 km
400 400
D
61 E
IN D IAN O CEAN
MADAGASCAR
COMOROS
SEYCHELLES
122
The shortest war on record, between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896, lasted just 38 minutes.
The Somali language did not become a written language until 1972.
MOGADISHU Equator
SOMALIA Beledweyne
Kismaayo
Zanzibar Dar es Salaam
Lindi Mtwara
i
Garoowe Gaalkacyo
Baydhabo Wanlaweyn
bel
Marka
Sh e
g a den
(not internationally
Hargeysa recognized)
Mombasa Tanga
Malindi
Kilimanjaro 19,341ft (5895m)
MOZAMB IQUE
Songea
Lake Nyasa
AW
B
60
ft The Great Rift Valley is one Va l l e y of the most extensive rifts on the Earth's surface, extending from Jordan southward through eastern Africa to Mozambique. The system is some 4,000 miles (6,400 km) long and averages 30–40 miles (48–64 km) wide.
Iringa
Morogoro
DODOMA Lake Rukwa
Jamaame Garissa
NAIROBI
Masai Moshi Steppe
Arusha
Meru
Nyeri
TA N Z A N I A
MAL
A
Eldoret Nakuru
Tabora
Negélé
KENYA
Lokitaung Lake Turkana
Mwanza
Shinyanga
Lake Tanganyika Sumbawanga
Kigoma
BURUNDI
BUJUMBURA
RWANDA
Highlands
Nazrét
Diré Dawa
E T H I O P I A
Jíma
Lake Edward Entebbe Lake Kisumu Kabale Victoria Lake Kivu KIGALI
Gr
8
7
6
Yambio
Rumbek
Elemi Triangle (adminstered by Kenya)
Goré
ADDIS ABABA
Lira D EM . R E P. Lake Albert UGANDA CO N G O Masindi
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Malakal
Gr ea
5
Wau
le
y
Ni
Val le
te
ift
W
hi
tR
S u d d
8
7
6
5
AFRICA
55
I
AFRICA
56
West Africa B 400
Tropic of
400
Mauritania and Madagascar are the only countries in the world not to use a decimal-based currency.The basic unit of currency, the ouguiyal, is divided into five khoums.
(disputed territory under Moroccan occupation)
Fdérik
Ilhas de Bar l
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nt
NOUAKCHOTT
h kc
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El
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an
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Saint Louis
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Kaédi
S E NE GAL DAKAR BANJUL
Mbaké Diourbel Kaolack
GAMBIA G a
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Bignona BAMAKO BISSAU Gambia is only around 20 miles (32 km) Gaoual wide and 200 miles (320 km) long; r e GUINEA- Boké g Labé Ni Bougouni Boboits unusual shape and size are down BISSAU G U I N E A Siguiri Dioulasso to territorial compromises arising from Kindia 19th-century Anglo-French rivalry Kankan Odienné in western Africa. CONAKRY CÔTE S I E R R A 48 D’IVOIRE FREETOWN LEONE (IVORY COAST) Bo Lac de Tubmanburg L I B E R I A Kossou YAMOUSSOUKRO A Rüppell’s Vulture collided with a commercial S MONROVIA airliner at 37,000 ft (11,277 m) above Gagnoa Buchanan Zwedru Côte d’Ivoire to earn the posthumous distinction Abidjan of the highest flying bird ever recorded. B a g oé
g
4
Erg
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A T L A N T I C O C E A N
Se n
al
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MAURITANIA Rkîz
Sal Boa Vista
Santiago Maio Fogo
rg
Zouérat
Akjoujt
o
Ilha
ave
São Vicente
São Nicolau
3
A
CAPE VERDE
48
'E
K
Nouâdhibou 2
Bîr Mogreïn
WESTERN SAHARA
Cancer
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i
52
0 miles
1
D
gu
0 km
C
k
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as
sa
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5
Harper
49 A
B
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AFRICA E
F
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ch
A L G E R I A
H
53
L I B Y A
The Niger River begins in Guinea just 150 miles (240 km) from the Atlantic coast but then heads inland on a 3000-mile (4100-km) journey before finally reaching the Gulf of Guinea some 1200 miles (2000 km) to the east.
e C
h
57
1
er
Tropic of Canc
Taoudenni
a
r
Tessalit -n g I Adrar des ‘E r Ifôghas Araouane uâ o a Az
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d
I
Lac Faguibine Tombouctou Gao Lac Ansongo Niangay Hombori Mopti
a
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Natitingou Parakou
Sokodé Ilorin
Nig
58
Jos Plateau
M
o
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a
ut
F
59 G
C
4
C.A.R.
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Lake Volta is one of the largest man-made o f t h e Niger EQUATORIAL lakes in the world, covering 3283 sq miles GUINEA (8502 sq km), or 3.6% of Ghana’s area. E
3
Nguigmi
er ABUJA ue Ben Ogbomosho el s Sunyani Ede Abomey Lake ot in G nt a Volta Ibadan Benin Enugu u Kumasi City V Lagos Nsawam olt Onitsha LOMÉ PORTOAsamankese NOVO Sapele Aba Calabar ACCRA B i g h t o f B e n i Gulf of Guinea n Port Harcourt hs
GHANA
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Sokoto Katsina H a d e j Maiduguri Gusau Kano Kainji Reservoir
BENIN Oti
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58
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A
Massif de l'Aïr
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Ténéré du Tafassâsset
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4
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53
B
Bamenda Nkongsamba
Garoua
Banyo
Bafoussam
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h
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B
Mao
ri
Bouar
Bossangoa
M
es fd Ndélé
si as
Am Timan
Mongo
Bong
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Bambari
REPUBLIC
Bria
S U D A N
54
Tropic of Cancer
E G Y P T
E
o
Obo
Pygmies who inhabit the Congo Basin grow to be only 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m) tall at adulthood. The name is derived from the Greek word “pygmê,” which referred to a unit of measurement equivalent to the length of a forearm.
a
CENTRAL AFRICAN
Goré
Sarh
Bongor Laï
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NDJAMENA
Biltine Abéché
r
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53
D
The eye of an ostrich is bigger than it’s brain. They are the largest bird on Earth. An adult male can stand 8 ft (2.5 m) tall, weigh up to 300 lbs (135 kg), and run at around 30 mph (48 km/h).
Y A
C H A D
Moundou
Guider
Ngaoundéré
NIGERIA
Kousséri
Maroua
I
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a
L
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Bol Lake Chad Ati
The vast sand flats surrounding Lake Chad were once covered by water. Changing climatic patterns caused the lake to shrink and desert now covers much of its previous area.
S
N I G E R
A L G E R I A
Tropic of Cancer
A
4
3
2
1
58
Central Africa
AFRICA
A
Dilolo
Likasi
L. Mweru
Manono
Kalemie
Z A M B I A
D
C
Equator A ND GA
Lake Albert Bunia
Goma Lake Kivu RWANDA Bukavu Kindu BURUNDI Kasongo
Lubumbashi
Kolwezi
B
400
Isiro
Butembo Lake Edward
Mbuji-Mayi
60
400
e
E
Kabinda Lake Tanganyika
Kamina
MweneDitu
Kananga
Ilebo
Lodja
60
0 miles
sa i
Tshikapa
Ka
A N G O L A
o
OCEAN
Kikwit
ng
ATLANTIC
Matadi Kw a
0 km
Boma
Kisangani
go
D E M . R E P. C ON G O Bandundu
KINSHASA
o
on
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55
A
8
49
(Angola)
Cabinda
BRAZZAVILLE
Dolisie Pointe-Noire
Djambala Mossendjo
Massoukou
G A B O N
Mbandaka
Congo Basin
Bumba
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The only major river that flows both north and south of the equator is the Congo. It crosses the equator twice, which means that at least part of its catchment area is always experiencing a rainy season.
Port-Gentil
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59
AFRICA
60
Southern Africa A
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49
ATLANTIC OCEAN
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59
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Tshwane / Pretoria - administrative capital Cape Town - legislative capital Bloemfontein - financial capital
SOUTH AFRICA
136 A
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122 Coco de Mer, or the double coconut Inner Islands palm, produces some of the largest seeds in the plant kingdom. Weighing VICTORIA Mahé up to 60 lbs (27 kg), they take Amirante SEYCHELLES around 10 years to ripen. Islands
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Amboasary
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Thought to have been extinct for 70 million years, a living coelacanth was netted in the Indian Ocean in 1938. They are powerful predators, averaging 5 feet (1.5 m) in length and weighing about 100 lbs (45 kg).
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rna l te r r it ory)
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The Jakobshavn Glacier is among the world´s fastest glaciers, often moving 100 feet (30 m) a day, and calves around 20 billion tons (tonnes) of icebergs every year.
21
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QUÉBEC
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Baffin Bay
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Qaanaaq
At 836,100 sq miles (2,166,600 sq km), Greenland is the largest island in the world. However, 677,700 sq miles (1,756,000 sq km) of this is a massive ice sheet so heavy that the central land area has sunk to form to a basin more than 1000 ft (300 m) below sea level.
Hudson Bay
4
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F
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137
ARCTIC
Kap Morris Jesup
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Svalbard (Norwegian dependency)
Kong Karls Land
Greenland Sea
Edgeøya fj o
With temperatures ranging from 59º F (15º C) in the summer to -40º F (-40º C) in the winter, vegetation on Svalbard consists mostly of lichens and mosses; the only trees are the tiny polar willow and the dwarf birch.
or
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D
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Even though only one-twentieth of Iceland’s potential geothermal power has been harnessed, around 89% of houses are heated geothermally.
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3
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Norwegian Sea
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62
Barents Sea Greenland's deeply indented coastline is 24,430 miles (39,330 km) long, a distance roughly equivalent to the Earth's circumference at the equator.
Ka
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t
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65
70
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66
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92
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Oulu Skellefteå
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Barents Sea
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Trondheim
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Scandinavia is still recovering from the last ice age, when the Lofoten land was depressed 2000 ft (600 m) by the weight of the ice. Bodø Today, the Earth’s crust is “rebounding” at the rate of 0.3 inches (9 mm) a year Mo i Rana in the Gulf of Bothnia.
Harstad
N o rw e g i an S ea Vesterålen
The sun is continuously visible from late May to late July in Tromsø because of its position well north of the Arctic Circle.
200
O C E A N
137
D
The North Cape Current warms the northern coasts of Norway, Finland, and Russia’s Kola Peninsula with water temperatures of 39–54º F (4–12º C), allowing this area of the Barents Sea to remain free of pack ice throughout the winter.
A R C T I C
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P O L A N D 80 D
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88
The sauna is a Finnish institution, with some 2 million sauna facilities to serve a population of just 5 million people.
76
The 10 mile (16 km) bridge and tunnel link across the Oresund Sound is one of the largest infrastructure projects in European history. It connects the Danish capital Copenhagen to the Swedish port of Malmö.
Nykøbing
Aabenrå Sjælland
Odense
Turku
Riihimäki
Joensuu Varkaus
Saimaa Imatra Lappeenranta
Jyväskylä
Hämeenlinna
Tampere
Seinäjoki
Vantaa Kotka HELSINKI Åland Espoo Finland Mariehamn lf of Gu
Visby Gotland
Norrköping Linköping
Växjö Halmstad Öland Randers Silkeborg Kalmar 70 Herning Helsingborg Århus Karlskrona COPENHAGEN Esbjerg Vejle Kristianstad
DENMARK
Jylland
Borås
Frederikshavn
Göteborg
Hjørring
Skag e r r a k
Borlänge
Falun
Pori
Vaasa
Rauma
Gulf of Bothnia
Sundsvall
Östersund Örnsköldsvik
Uppsala Västerås STOCKHOLM Örebro
Karlstad
Halden Vänern Arendal Skövde Trollhättan Kristiansand Vättern
Porsgrunn
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OSLO
Gjøvik Mjøsa Hønefoss
Drammen
Stavanger
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Sognefjorde
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8
7
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67
4
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Roosendaal
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Almelo
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76
GERMANY
Nijmegen ’s-Hertogenbosch
Oss
W aa l
Apeldoorn Enschede Amersfoort Utrecht Ede Arnhem
Hilversum
IJ
Meppel
Lelystad
AMSTERDAM
Purmerend
Breda Tilburg
Gouda Lek
Leeuwarden
Delfzijl
E
NETHERLANDS
Zoetermeer
Dordrecht
Rotterdam
Delft
THE HAGUE
The port of Rotterdam, combined with Europoort (which handles vessels too Haarlem large to reach Rotterdam), is one of the largest in the world in terms of capacity, handling around 375 million Leiden tons (tonnes) of cargo every year.
North Sea
Texel
Alkmaar
The inner city of Amsterdam is divided by its network of canals into some 90 “islands” linked together by approximately 1300 bridges and viaducts.
Amsterdam - Capital The Hague - Seat of government
67
D
e n Schiermonnikoog land nei Ameland d e Terschelling d a e W nze de Vlieland ad W
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Den Helder
The Netherlands is the lowest country in the world. It is estimated that 30% of the land is below sea level, with the lowest point some 23 ft (6.7 m) below sea level.
67
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THE NETHERLAND'S TWO CAPITALS
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4
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The Low Countries
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BRUSSELS
Tournai
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72 D
72 B
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77
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Belgium and the Netherlands have an underground boundary that differs from the surface boundary Genk shown on maps. In Heerlen Hasselt 1950, the two countries Leuven agreed to move the Maastricht underground boundary Tienen so as not to divide coal mines between Liège the two countries. Seraing Verviers e us e M
Antwerpen
Echternach is the home of the only religious dancing procession remaining in the Western world. Every year since the 15th century, thousands of pilgrims have marched down the streets of the town performing a ritual dance involving specific movements, music, and prayers.
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Brugge
On August 23, 1914, three weeks after Britain entered World War I, the 70,000 strong British Expeditionary Force encountered the advancing 72 German army for the first time at the battle of Mons.
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8
7
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69
4
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48
Faeroe Islands
Barra
South Uist
North Uist
Outer Hebrides
Isle of Lewis Stornoway
Midges have the fastest wing-beat of any insect, and are able to flap their wings at around 20,000 beats per minute.
OCEAN
ATLANTIC
65
B
Ben Nevis
Grampian Mts.
SCOTLAND
Loch Ness
Fort William
Isle of Skye
Thurso
Kirkwall
Orkney Islands
NORTHERN IRELAND
Stranraer
Dumfries
Carlisle
UNITED KINGDOM
F
Londonderry
E
67
With a depth of 788 ft (240 m) and a length of about 23 miles
After the surrender of the German fleet in 1918 and its internment in Scapa Flow, over 50 ships were scuttled by the German crews on June 21, 1919, to prevent them falling into British hands.
Lerwick
65
D
Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland
N o r t h S e a
the largest volume of fresh water in Great Britain.
Aberdeen (36 km), Loch Ness contains
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4406ft (1343m) The Giant’s Causeway comprises Isle of approximately 37,000 interlocking Dundee Mull Oban or Perth dark basalt polygonal columns; th Loch Lomond Stirling Firth of Forth Jura they were formed by volcanic Greenock activity some 55 million EDINBURGH Glasgow Islay years ago. Isle of Southern Arran Uplands Ayr
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The British Isles
8
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Chester
Lincoln
ENGLAND
The Wash
Swansea Bath Salisbury Taunton
Newport Swindon Bristol
CARDIFF Barnstaple Exmoor
Milford Haven
48
A
0 miles
0 km
100 100
Channel Islands
A
D
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(UK crown dependency) St. Peter Port Guernsey St. Helier Jersey
72
Land's End
74
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Isles of Scilly
C E
E
68
Channel Tunnel
Canterbury Dover
Ipswich Southendon-Sea
Colchester
a m e sLONDON
Reading
Th
Stratfordupon-Avon Brecon Gloucester Severn Oxford Beacons
Stokeon-Trent Derby Nottingham Norwich The Leicester Fens Shrewsbury Cardigan W A L E S Peterborough Bay Birmingham Coventry Aberystwyth Cambridge Worcester
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Holyhead Bangor
Fishguard
Waterford
Wexford
Wicklow Mts.
Every year over 1.8 billion pints (0.561 litres) of Guinness® Irish stout are consumed in over 100 countries around the world.
Cork
fe y
DUBLIN
Southampton Brighton Exeter Portsmouth The River Severn has the second highest tidal range Bournemouth l Dartmoor in the world, as much as 50 ft (15 m), often giving Isle of Wight ne rise to a tidal bore. In September 1996, one such an Ch Plymouth h wave carried a surfer for 5.7 miles (9 km). s i Penzance Engl
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Limerick
Blackwater
Killarney
n
Lough Ree
Lough Derg
no
Athlone
Middlesbrough
York Blackpool Bradford Leeds Kingston upon Hull Preston Bolton Manchester Grimsby Anglesey Liverpool Sheffield
Irish Sea
Bangor Isle of Man Lake (UK crown District dependency)) Newry Douglas Lancaster Dundalk
BELFAST
Barrow
6
Tralee
Ennis
Galway
Lough Corrib
Sligo
IRELAND
an
Sh
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Lif
5
Donegal Bay
8
7
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EUROPE
71
4
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la Rochelle
la Rochesur-Yon
Le Havre
F
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65
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Lille
Beauvais
Ma r n
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IU
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Belfort
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Strasbourg
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LUXEMBOURG
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GERMANY Champagne bottles are placed neck down into a freezing brine bath (bac à glace), freezing only the bottle’s neck to form a plug that keeps the wine – and the bubbles – in the bottle while sediments are removed.
Barle-Duc
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Châlonsen-Champagne
PARIS
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Douai
Amiens
Arras
N
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Dunkerque
Tunnel
Work began on the 31-mile (50-km) Channel Tunnel in 1987. Earth was removed at the rate of 2400 tons (tonnes) a day until completion, seven years later. Around 10.5 million cu yards (8 million cu m) had been excavated. 76 Channel
North Sea
Orléans
Bourges
A
Blois
Le Mans
Mantes-la-Jolie Alençon Versailles Chartres
Caen Normandie
St.-Malo
St.-Nazaire Nantes
Belle Île
Bretagne
Quimper
Lorient
Brest
Jersey
Guernsey
Île d’Ouessant
Cherbourg
Channel
St.-Lô
English
Channel Islands (UK crown dependency)
71
On July 1, 1916, the British suffered 58,000 casualties on the opening day of the Somme Offensive. Five months later, after advancing only a few miles, there had been 420,000 British, 200,000 French, and 500,000 German casualties.
K I N G D O M
U N I T E D
71
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France, Andorra & Monaco
EUROPE
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84
Mediterranean Sea
One of history’s great leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte, was born on August 15, 1769, at Ajaccio in Corsica.
The word denim comes from “de Nîmes,” this being the town where the fabric was originally produced.
Golfe du Lion
84
Balearic Islands
The lowest point in Andorra is Riu Runer, at 2756 ft (840m) above sea level.
S P A I N
0 km
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ITALY
Lake Geneva
MONACO
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Bastia
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LA VELLA The Tour de France bicycle race is typically held over some 20 day-long stages covering around 2200 miles (3600 km) for the coveted yellow jersey.
P
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Bordeaux
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8
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EUROPE
73
EUROPE
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Spain & Portugal A
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71
Santiago de Compostela
Galicia
Oviedo Lugo
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100
Pontevedra
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Port has been produced in the Duoro Aveiro Valley under strict regulation since the 1750s. Brandy is added to the Coimbra grape juice to fortify and Figueira da Foz strengthen the wine.
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Portugal is one of the world’s largest Sines producers of cork and has regulations protecting cork trees dating back to 1320.
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Gibraltar was seized by a combined Anglo-Dutch fleet under Admiral Rooke in 1704. British sovereignty was then formalized in 1713 by the Treaty of Utrecht, and Gibraltar eventually became a British colony in 1830.
52 A
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Málaga Marbella
Gibraltar (UK) Ceuta (Spain)
MOROCCO C
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El Puerto de Santa María
5
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Cáceres
LISBON
Lagos
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ATLANTIC 2
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Avilés
A Coruña (La Coruña)
100
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D
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G
75
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F R A N C E
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Seat of many great civilizations throughout history, the name Mediterranean translates as “sea between the lands.”
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Work continues on the Sagrada Família, Gaudi’s unfinished cathedral. Begun in 1882, the masterpiece is still without a roof.
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Bornholm
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100
Baltic Sea
SWEDEN
67
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G E R M A N Y
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80 Early in the morning of Sunday, August 13, 1961, work began on the Berlin Fehmarn Stralsund Rügen Wall, which would eventually Kiel Mecklenburger Bucht Greifswald run for 66 miles (107 km) Neumünster Rostock between east and west Berlin, Lübeck Cuxhaven Wismar cutting through 192 streets. Schwerin Neubrandenburg Bremerhaven During what became known Hamburg as “The Berlin Airlift” a total Emden Müritz Lüneburg of 2,326,406 tons (tonnes) Oldenburg S El be of supplies were flown into Bremen Berlin over an 18-month period to break a Soviet blockade of the city. BERLIN
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Wolfsburg Osnabrück Frankfurt an der Oder Hannover Braunschweig Potsdam Münster Hildesheim p ree Salzgitter Magdeburg Bielefeld Cottbus Dessau Hamm Paderborn Recklinghausen Halle Essen Dortmund POLAN Göttingen Duisburg Bochum Düsseldorf Leipzig Kassel Wuppertal Dresden Leverkusen Jena Gera Erfurt Aachen Köln Bonn Siegen Chemnitz
71
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The Kiel Canal is 61 miles (98 km) long and one of the busiest canals in the world, with around 45,000 ships a year passing between the Baltic and the North Sea.
Jylland
67
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76
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Born in Salzburg on January 27, 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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LJUBLJANA
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C R O AT I A
SLOVENIA
Kranj
Klagenfurt
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78
78
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The acrylic glass roof over the Olympic stadium in München (Munich) measures 914,940 sq ft (85,000 sq m), making it the biggest structure of its kind in the world.
I TA LY
Koper age of five, and at eleven he produced his first opera. Gulf
Lake Maggiore was already writing music by the
When it is completed in 2017, the Gotthard Base Tunnel will run for 35.5 miles (57 km) beneath the Lepontine Alps to become the longest tunnel in the world.
Matterhorn 14,692ft (4478m)
A Locarno
SWITZERLAND
Thuner See Lausanne n ner Alpe Ber Sion Brig Lake Geneva Monthey Genève
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tallest in the world.
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77
A
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AUSTRIA HUNGARY
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VATICAN CITY
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In May 2006 a violin called “The Hammer,” made by Italian master Stradivari at Cremona in 1708, sold at Christie’s in London for US$3,540,000.
GERMANY
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Mt. Etna began some 300,000 years ago as a submarine volcano and has since grown to a cone with a base 30 miles (48 km) wide and 10,922 ft (3329 m) high.
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The George cross that appears on the Maltese flag was awarded to the islanders by King George VI of Britain for their heroism during World War II.
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53
of
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Palermo
Isola Vulcano
Isola Stromboli
Cosenza
53
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Isole Egadi
Isola Lipari
Isole Eolie
Isola d'Ustica
Tyrrhenian Sea
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53
Isola di Capri
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The medical school at Salerno is the oldest in Europe, established during the 11th and 12th centuries.
(Sardinia)
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Mediterranean S e a Trapani
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Iglesias
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Built between 1747 and 1795, the Zaluski Library in Warsaw was one of the world’s first public libraries.
(part of Russian Federation)
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Bydgoszcz
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88
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In November 1989, the so-called “Velvet Revolution” saw Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Gorzów Wielkopolski
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Founded in Gdansk shipyard in 1980, the Solidarity trade union, and its leader Lech Walesa, played a key role in the downfall of communism across Courland Lagoon much of eastern Europe.
Pomeranian Koszalin Bay
GERMANY
76
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D E N M A RK
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67
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The Great Hungarian Plain (Alföld) stretches south from Budapest to the borders of Croatia and Serbia and east to Ukraine and Romania. It covers an area of 20,000 sq miles (51,800 sq km) and is almost completely flat.
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77
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With a surface area of around 231 sq mi (598 sq km), Lake Balaton has an average depth of only 11 ft (3.25 m).
SLOVENIA
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8
77
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Trnava
Nagykanizsa
Zalaegerszeg
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Built in 1357, Charles Bridge was the only crossing point of the Vltava in Prague until the 19th century.
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n
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The Danube forms all or part of the border between nine different European nations: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine.
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Born in Zagreb in 1892, Marshall Tito was the president of the former Yugoslavia from 1953 until his death in 1980.
A U S T R I A
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At 11:15 am, on June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were shot dead by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo. This single act precipitated World War I, which eventually lead to the death of almost 10 million troops.
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In February 2008, Kosovo (a UN Protectorate within Serbia since 1999) declared independence. Although recognized by several countries, Kosovo’s decision has proved controversial with other states wary of setting a precedent for separatist groups within their own borders. It is therefore likely to be some time before Kosovo becomes universally recognized.
Konispol
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Historically, European eels migrated thousands of miles from the Sargasso Sea to live most of their lives in Lake Ohrid, before returning to the Atlantic to spawn and die. Modern hydroelectric projects have prevented this epic journey, but efforts are underway to restore access to the lake.
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Under an extreme communist regime between 1944 and 1991, Albania was for many years the only officially atheist state in the world where all forms of religion were banned by law.
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Macedonia's capital, Skopje, was hit by a devastating earthquake in 1963. Around 80% of the city's buildings were damaged or destroyed and over 1000 people killed.
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Built between 447 and 438 BCE, the Parthenon survived almost unscathed for over 2000 years until, in 1687, a gunpowder magazine beneath the building exploded, causing considerable damage.
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Thracian Alexandroúpoli Sea Samothráki
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Blagoevgrad
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Lake Prespa
83
Sofia's skyline is dominated by the gold domes of the Alexander Nevski Memorial Church, which took craftsmen and artists some thirty years to build between 1882 and 1912.
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86
Bulgaria & Greece
EUROPE
lo n
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79
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98
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The Minoans developed the first Hellenic civilization 4000 years ago, based at the luxurious palace of Knossos. Unfortunately, in 1400 BCE, this civilization came to an abrupt end, destroyed by a catastrophic event, probably a tidal wave.
Irákleio
53
100
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Only about 100 of the 2000 or so Greek Islands are permanently inhabited.
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The Corinth Canal was completed in 1893 after 11 years of work. The canal is 4 miles (6.3 km) long, 80 ft (25 m) wide, and 26 ft (8 m) deep. The central section runs along a 260 ft- (79 m-) deep cutting through solid rock.
The first Olympic athletics festival was held at Olympia in around 776 BCE.
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87
Go t l a n d
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Rich oil shale deposits in northern Estonia are quarried, crushed, and heated to produce almost 7000 barrels of oil a day.
F I N L A N D
67
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Low salinity and the shallow coastal waters cause pack ice to accumulate at the head of the Gulf of Bothnia and off Finland during most winters; occasionally the ice becomes banked up in pressure ridges that are almost 50 ft (15 m) high.
S W E D E N
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Lake Peipus
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92
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88 EUROPE
The Baltic States & Belarus I A N S S U R
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8
7
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Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States was established on December 8, 1991, by a treaty signed at Minsk, with the intent of coordinating the foreign policies of the newly independent former Soviet republics.
Kyyivs’ke Vdskh
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Covering an area of approximately 34,000 sq miles (88,000 sq km), Pripet Marshes are the largest area of marshland in Europe.
Formed in 1945 from the northern half of German East Prussia, and ceded to Russia under the Potsdam agreement, Kaliningrad oblast became a true enclave, completely separated from the rest of Russia, when Lithuania and Belarus achieved their independence in 1991.
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On April 25, 1986, engineers accidentally initiated an uncontrolled chain reaction in the number 4 reactor of the Chornobyl' nuclear power plant. The resulting explosion released 8 tons (tonnes) of radioactive material in the world’s worst-ever nuclear accident.
BELARUS
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Vlad Dracula or Vlad the Impaler Uzhhorod was the real-life prince upon whom Bram Stoker based his famous Count Dracula. Dracula Satu Mare was born in Transylvania in 1431 in the town of Sighisoara. Baia Mare
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A monument in central Kiev stands as testament to the 7–12 million Ukrainian peasants who died during the Great Famine, or Holodomor, of 1932–33.
Sumy
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In 1872, an iron foundry was established at Donets’k by British industrialist John Hughes (from whom the town's preRevolutionary name Yuzovka was derived) to produce rails for the growing Russian transportation network.
F
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RUSSIAN F E D E RA T I O N
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Odesa was one of the major flashpoints in the Russian Revolution of 1905, and was the scene of the mutiny on the warship Potemkin, when sailors protesting against the serving of rotten 98 meat eventually killed several of the ship’s officers. E
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The port of Murmansk remains ice-free throughout the winter thanks to the Gulf Stream, whereas St. Petersburg, 600 miles (965 km) to the south on the Baltic Sea, is ice-bound between December and May.
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Caviar is the processed eggs, or roe, of sturgeon that live in the Caspian Sea and Volga River. Overfishing and poaching in recent years have seen the price of the finest caviar rise to around US$5000 for 2.2 lbs (1 kg).
96
The Ural Mountains form the traditional boundary between Europe and Asia, extending some 1550 miles (2500 km). They were formed over 280 million years ago as the East European and Siberian plates moved together.
From August 1942 to February 1943, German armies laid siege to Volgograd, formerly known as Stalingrad. The Germans themselves were eventually surrounded and lost almost 250,000 men.
Samara Balakovo
T Running from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains include Mt El’brus, which at 18,510 ft (5642 m) is the highest point in Europe, and still uplifting at the rate of 0.4 inches (1 cm) every year.
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(administered by Russian Federation, claimed by Japan.)
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F
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96
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66
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S W E D E N KALININGRAD (part of Russian Federation) EST. LAT. LITH.
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134
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MONGOLIA 110 F
4
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The Trans-Siberian Railroad, completed in 1916, runs 5578 miles (9297 km) between Moscow and Vladivostok. Crossing eight time zones, the journey takes six days.
E
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97
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NORTH & WEST ASIA
98
Turkey & the Caucasus A
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Black Sea
1
An average of 50,000 commercial ships pass through the Bosporus a year, along with thousands of ferries and smaller passenger boats. The strait is three times busier than the Suez Canal and four times as busy as the Panama Canal.
BULGARIA
Bosporus ƒstanbul
G REECE Tekirdaê Marmara Denizi
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87
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TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS
Girne (recognized only by Turkey) (Kyrenia) Gazimaêusa (Famagusta) Larnaca Paphos
NICOSIA
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Mediterranean Sea 54
A
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86
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NORTH & WEST ASIA E
F
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99
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93
The Spitak earthquake struck Armenia in 1988, killing at least 25,000 people and devastating the country’s infrastructure.
C a u c a Och’amch’ire s u K’ut’aisi P’ot’i
Caspian Sea
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guri
s
G E O R G I A T'BILISI
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iz D
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Büyükaêri Daêi (Mount Ararat) 16,853ft (5137m)
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as
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Azerbaijan has substantial oil reserves located in and around the Caspian Sea. They were some of the earliest oilfields in the world to be exploited.
I
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A
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The salty water of Lake Van inhibits all animal life except the Pearl Mullet, a small fish that has adapted to the harsh conditions.
4
Atatürk Dam, one of the largest dams in the world, was completed in 1990. The reservoir behind the dam covers an area of 315 sq miles (816 sq km) and often requires interruptions in the flow of the Euphrates River to maintain water levels.
S Y R I A
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102 E
F
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Buíayrat al-Asad Ar Raqqah
Syrian
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Manufactured by a secret process, Damascus steel was much prized in the preindustrial era as an extremely hard metal used for high quality sword blades.
Eu
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Al Qámishlí
The Euphrates is 1700 miles (2470 km) long and drains an area of 171,000 sq mi (443,000 sq km). Although less than 30 percent of the river's drainage basin is in Turkey, about 95 percent of the river's water originates in the Turkish highlands.
C
T U R K E Y
100
LEBANON
Tripoli
Tar√ús
Al Ládhiqíyah
CYPRUS
87
100
98
B
Lebanon has only one permanent river, the Nahr el Litani, which runs for 110 miles (175 km).
r
2
0 km
0 miles
an
1
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A
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100 NORTH & WEST ASIA
The Near East
8
7
6
5
H a N e ge v
G
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Su of
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A
Ma‘án
Wádí Músá (Petra)
A√ ◊alfílah
Al Karak
JORDAN
Dead Sea
Red Sea
EGYPT
Al Mafraq
As Suwaydá’
Az Zarqá’ AMMAN
Jiftlik Post
Nu'eima
Khirbet el 'Aujá et Tahtá . Jericho
Major settlement Israeli settlement Area under Palestinian administration
Sea
Bethlehem Hebron D e ad
JERUSALEM
Ramallah
Mas-ha .
102 D
102 B
C
S A U D I
20
Jenín Qabátiya Túlkarm Náblus Qalqílya
0 miles
0 km 20
West Bank
E
102
The shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest land on the Earth’s surface, at 1371 ft (418 m) below sea level. The water within the lake is eight to nine times saltier than ocean water.
A R A B I A
Desert
The ancient city of Petra was carved from solid rock by the Nabatean people in about 400 BCE. It remained largely unknown until a Swiss explorer, J. L. Burckhardt, heard of its whereabouts from the local Bedouins in 1812.
Al ‘Aqabah
Be’er Sheva
Elat
Irbid
Dar‘á
JERUSALEM
ISRAEL
Bethlehem
Jordan
As Sal√ Jericho
Petah Tikva
Every day 7 million tons (tonnes) of water evaporates from the Dead Sea.
54
(under Palestinian administration)
Gaza GAZA STRIP
Tel Aviv-Yafo Holon
WEST BANK
Gulf o f Aq a b a
Jo rd a n
I S R A E L
Lake Tiberias Natzrat
J O R D A N
Hefa
8
7
6
5
NORTH & WEST ASIA
101
4
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KUWAIT
KUWAIT CITY
Shiráz Bandar-e Búshehr ia rs lf Pe Gu
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400
104
PA
Bandar-e Hámún-e ‘Abbás Jaz Múríán
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Kermán Záhedán
Neyshábúr
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T U R K M E N I S TA N
UZBEK
A ra l S ea
400
E
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Sh
Al Jawf Tabúk
D
SYRI A
Khvoy
0 miles
0 km
K A Z A K H S TA N
96
D
Tabríz Ardabíl Rasht Sárí Gorgán Zanján Ámol Al Maw§il Arbíl Sabzevár (Mosul) Qazvín TEHRÁN Kirkúk Sanandaj Hamadán I R A Q e Kavír Qom D a s h t Kermánsháh Arák Buíayrat ath Káshán Tharthár BAGHDÁD I R A N Ti g r i s
s
AZERBAIJAN IA
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C a u c a s u
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na tolia
C
In the 10th century, the Grand Vizier of Persia took his entire library with him wherever he went. The 117,000 volume library was carried by camels trained to walk in alphabetical order.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Four thousand years ago Babylonian law laid down a minimum wage for every class of workers in the kingdom. M
Bla ck
CYPRUS
A
98
Sea of Azov
UKRAINE
R
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93
B
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4
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102 NORTH & WEST ASIA
The Middle East AN
h
8
55
a
(Jedda)
Jiddah
A
B
As Sulayyil
Y
E
Say’ún
Gulf of Oman
Ash Sháriqah
Gul
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M flawqirah
Arabian Sea
Juzur al Íaláníyát
OCEAN
INDIAN
Saudi Arabia contains the world’s largest oil reserves. The region can produce around 11 million barrels of oil every day. 122
flalálah
O
Jazírat Ma§írah Khalíj Duqm Ma§írah
C
SOMALIA
D
122 E
Every Muslim must make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca during his or her lifetime. Muslims regard the small shrine called the Ka’bah, located near the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca, as the most sacred place on Earth.
‘Adan
Suqutrá (Socotra) (to Yemen)
Sayíút
t aw
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M Ía ç r a m
E
Wuday‘ah
lat yn R a m ‘ ata ab as S
SANA
fla‘dah
Najrán
(Emp
N
Sanáw
A R A B I A
hálí ‘ al K Ar Ru b Quarter) ty
The name “Red Sea” is probably derived from the extensive blooms of algae that occasionally occur. These change pigment when they die, turning the sea’s normally intense blue-green waters a deep red.
55
QATAR Dubayy
MANAMA BAHRAIN
S A U D I
DJIBOUTI
ETHIOPIA
A
8
7
6
Al Hufúf Cancer DOHA fluíár Tropic of RIYADH ABU DHABI i 5 Íaraç MUSCAT a UNITED ARAB Ar Rustáq n Nazwá Ramlat flúr EMIRATES P e Ál Wahíbah n i n s u l a Laylá
Ta‘izz
Al Hudaydah
Jízán Jazá’ir Farasán
Abhá
A√ ◊á’if
(Mecca)
Makkah
(Medina)
b
imah ar R ádí W
Buraydah
Al Madínah
a S e
7
SUDAN
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6
5
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NORTH & WEST ASIA
103
104
NORTH & WEST ASIA
Central Asia A
B
C
96
Aral Sea
KAZAKHSTAN
d
la
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Ustyurt Plateau
w
Since 1960, the Aral Sea has shrunk by 90 percent, becoming extremely saline and consequently losing all but one of its once-abundant fish species.
Lo
1
D
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UZBEKISTAN
Köneürgenç
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99
Türkmenba§y Balkanabat
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TURKMENISTAN
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4
I
102
R
A
Saÿat ar ya Baÿramaly Atamyrat Áqchah Sheberghán
Mazár-e Sharíf Meymaneh
Bálá Morgháb
D a r y á - ye M
Serhetabat
N
The Kara Kum (Garagum) Canal, the world’s longest irrigation canal, stretches some 850 miles (1375 km) and is known as the “River of Life,” since it irrigates large areas of arid land.
K a n al y
Murgap
The desert of Kara Kum (Garagum) occupies over 70 percent of Turkmenistan, severely limiting human settlement across much of the country.
Samarqand Qarshi D
Kaka
3
Navoiy
Buxoro
Seÿdi
u
Baharly Gökdepe Abadan Ga AflGABAT r
gum
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Caspian Sea
Zarafshon
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Tu
2
Uchquduq
To‘rtko‘l
or g
Herát
AFGHANISTAN Faráh
w
Gereshk
rg Má t-eDash
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200
0 miles
Da
5
ryá
200
- ye H el ma
o
Kandahár
nd
102 A
B
h áb
H a r í r úd
C
D
Kalát
NORTH & WEST ASIA E
F
G
105
H
97 1
K A Z A K H S T A N BISHKEK
Kara-Balta
Tyup
Tokmak Ozero Karakol n Issyk-Kul’ h a
Talas
S KYRGYZSTAN T i e n u TASHKENT Chirchiq a Naryn l - T Namangan Dzhalal-Abad aa sh Olmaliq Angren Andijon Kok Qo‘qon Osh Khûjand Farg‘ona Ûroteppa Su
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s Until recent years, people living in remote areas of Afghanistan were immunized against smallpox by having dried powdered scabs from victims of the disease blown up their noses. This treatment was invented by the Chinese in the 11th century, and is thought to be the oldest form of vaccination.
Asadábád
KABUL
H
i
Pol-e Khomrí
C
m
Baghlán
2
The “Epic of Manas” is a verbally transmitted poem of close to 500,000 lines that tells the story of Kyrgyz hero Manas and his descendants and followers.
Khaydarkan
Sulyukta Zeravshan
108
Jalálábád
108
4
Ghazní Gardíz
Despite an area of 251,771 sq miles (652,090 sq km), Afghanistan has a limited road network and no railroads whatsoever, making access to much of the country extremely difficult.
P A K I S T A N
I
N
D
I
A
5
116 E
F
G
H
SOUTH & EAST ASIA
106
South & East Asia B
C
a Se
pian
Sy
MONGOLIA nt
Y a m u na
ek
ge
d
st
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Gulf of Mannar
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Sa l we en tra EP Mount Everest 29,035ft (8850m) AL BHUTAN y BANGLADESH Ri ve
r
Xi
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VIETNAM LAOS
MYANMAR
c c a n D e ats Gh
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MALDIVES
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a s Br ah m a p u
I N D I A
ern
51
N s
West
Laccadive Islands (to India)
Plateau of Tibet
Irraw
I n du of
Th f Ran n o K a ch c h h
n
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b G o River
M
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ai
A
im
Gu
ma
I
H
s
D ar
Arabian Sea
or
ou
Takla Makan Shan tun Desert Al Kunlun Mo unta ins
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PAKISTAN
Gulf of Khambhat
Equat
M
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3
4
Hovsgol Nuur ai
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Cas
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Alt
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Uvs Nuur
P er sia
94
ni
Aral Sea
Ira ni a n Pl a t ea u 2
se
h
s
1
Lake Baikal
Ye
Irty
94
Black Sea
D
Y
A
(BURMA)
Hainan
n
M ek o ng
Bay of Bengal
THAILAND CAMBODIA Tônle Sap
Andaman Islands (to India) Andaman
SRI LANKA Nicobar Islands (to India)
Sea
Gulf of Thailand
M ALAY
I N D I A N Su
SINGAPORE
m at
ra
O C E A N
Java
5
Java 123 A
B
C
D
SOUTH & EAST ASIA E
F
1
ge
un
Sakhalin
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Gr
Lake Khanka
Sea of Japan (East Sea) NORTH
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JAPAN
s la nds
ky
OCEAN
yu
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uI
Sea
Ta i
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n
St
R
TAIWAN
Ph i l i p p i ne
Luzon Strait Paracel Islands (disputed)
Northern Marianas Is.
3
(to US)
S ea Guam
Luzon
(to US)
South China Sea
o n e s i a M i c r
PHILIPPINES
Equ
Spratly Islands (disputed)
Palawan Sulu Sea
BRUNEI
ator
134
Mindanao Celebes Sea
S IA
4
M e l a n e s i a Bismarck Arch ipel
Halmahera
ago
Solomon Islands
Moluccas
Borneo
P eg u n u n g an Ma o k e
Seram
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Sea
2
PACIFIC
East China
na
1000
134
Shikoku Kyushu
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1000
0 miles
it
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ra
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KOREA SOUTH KOREA Yellow Sea
Hokkaido
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Manchuria Plain
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hin
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H
95
Am u r
A
G
107
Timor
E
Solomon
N e w G u in e a
Sea
Banda Sea
F l or e s Islands S e a Lesser Sunda
5
Arafura Sea
EAST TIMOR
124 F
G
Coral Sea
H
SOUTH & EAST ASIA
108
Western China & Mongolia A
B
C
D
96
R U S S I A N
The Altai Mountains provide one of the last refuges for the endangered snow leopard. There are thought to be only a few thousand animals left in the wild.
1
Hövsgöl Nuur
K A Z A K H S TA N
0 miles
400
Yining
K Y R G Y Z S TA N
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116
Demchok/Dêmqog (administered by China, claimed by India)
Kuytun Shihezi
Qitai
ÜRÜMQI
S h a n
t
Altay
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A
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Ku nlu n
G
Govï
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Dalain Hob Xingxingxia
Lop Nur
GANSU Qilian
Q
Sh
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ai
Qinghai Hu da m Pen di Golmud Dulan
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Aksai Chin (administered by China, claimed by India) Qingzang Gaoyuan
Rutog
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XINJIANG UYGUR Ruoqiang ZIZHIQU han n S
n g a Tsetserleg yn Nu ruu
M O N G
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Mörön
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Junggar Pendi
Taklimakan Shamo
(claimed by India)
Hyargas Nuur
M Har Us Nuur
Ulungur Hu
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400
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96
0 km
4
A l t a
The Turpan Depression is the lowest and hottest place in China. Temperatures can exceed 117˚F (47˚C) around the lake of Aydingkol Hu, which lies 505 ft (154 m) below sea level.
Ulaangom
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2
F E D
( P l at eau of T i bet )
C
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To n g t i an He
Q I N G H A I Ba
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yan
1.3 billion population.
A
Jiang
N
5
(claimed by China)
Mount Everest
117 B
Jinsha
en
Har Shan X I Z A N G M Gar Tanggula ek o Z I Z H I Q U Sha n (Shiquanhe) g Yushu Zanda n (Tibet) H Amdo i m Br Nyima Siling Co I N D I A Tangra Qamdo Nagqu Salw a e Damxung a hmap u Yumco Nam Co l a tr a nta ngl ha Shan ê Although forming around q n i a Ny y a Lhazê 20 percent of China’s landmass, E P LHASA Arunáchal s Tibet is sparsely populated, A Pradesh Gyangzê L supporting only 1 percent of China’s 29,035ft (8850m) BHUTAN
C
INDIA D
SOUTH & EAST ASIA F
G
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1
HEILONGJIANG
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112
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The name Gobi Desert is derived Jagdaqi from Mongolian, meaning “waterless place.” Bare rock rather than sand dunes typify the cold desert landscape that stretches for some 500,000 sq miles (1,295,000 sq km).
Q
Se l e
Manzhouli Hulun
Sühbaatar
Darhan Erdenet ULAN Bulgan
(Hailar)
Da Hingga n
Hulun Buir n Ono
H
97 Genhe
Ling
A (Erg rgun un He )
E
109
Xilinhot Z o g L LIAONING S e a of Jap an O Mon G r ( E a st S e a) N Chifeng NORTH e n O (Ulanhad) M (In KOREA I E Ulan Qab K o r e a N (Jining) Bay HOHHOT SOUTH BEIJING TIANJIN Bo Hai KOREA an g H e Baotou
Saynshand
Erenhot
JIANGSU
YUNNAN
JIANGXI FUJIAN
TAIWAN
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111
GUIZHOU
E
Sea
ZHEJIANG
Despite a population of 1.3 billion, China has only about 200 family names. HUNAN
113
China
F
G
4
se
CHONGQING
East
o J i-s ap h an)
The Huang He (Yellow River) has flooded more than 1500 times in the last 1800 years. In 1931, catastrophic flooding was responsible for the deaths of 3.7 million people. The river has also changed its course at least nine times. HUBEI
SICHUAN
Yellow Sea
w
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JAPAN
(t
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a
NINGXIA HUIZU ZIZHIQU
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Having started in the 7th century BCE, work on the 3700 mile (6000 km) long Great Wall of China continued for hundreds of years. A major renovation begun in 1386 took 200 years to complete.
Mu Us Shadi
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112
XINJIANG UYGUR ZIZHIQU
Tiananmen Square in Beijing is the largest public square in the world, covering an U IQ area of 100 acres (40.5 hectares). ZH ZI OL ) NG ia M O ongol I E N r M Datong (Inne l
Mudanjiang Jilin J I L I N Ch’ôngjin Sea of SHENYANG Baishan Japan Fuxin Fushun LIAONING NORTH (East Jinzhou Haicheng KOREA Sea) Q i Dandong l i Hamhûng a n Tangshan Dalian P’YÔNGYANG al a W BEIJING n S TIANJIN at hi YINCHUAN h Namp’o re TIANJIN SHI Bo SOUTH a G o f C Shijiazhuang n Hai Korea Bay HEBEI TAIYUAN SEOUL KOREA SHANDONG Taegu NINGXIA Handan JINAN Qingdao Taejôn Pusan Zibo Q INGHAI LANZHOU SHANXI Anyang Kwangju Zaozhuang Xinxiang
M O N G O L I A
Tangshan, China, suffered the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century on July 28, 1976. One-quarter of the population was killed or seriously injured, with an estimated death toll of 242,000 people.
l on
ng
3
108
A mu r (H ei
F E D E R A T I O N
The “Yongle Dadian,” an encyclopedia of the Chinese Ming dynasty, had 22,937 chapters in 11,000 volumes. More than 2000 Chinese scholars worked on the book for five years before it was finished.
R U S S I A N
97
D
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H ua ng H e (Y el low R iver)
2
C
Whereas European languages such as English or French use an alphabet of 26 letters, the Chinese language uses a system of over 40,000 characters or symbols.
109
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3
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110
Eastern China & Korea
SOUTH & EAST ASIA
AR M Y A N MA ) (BURM
A
400 400
N
HENAN
HUBEI
A
Lichuan WUHAN
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HEFEI
Sea
SHANGHAI
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ng
Spratly Islands
D
B
C
121
(disputed by China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam)
PHILIPPINES
134
ancer
E
By far the biggest tidal bore in the world occurs on the Qiantang River in China. At spring tides the wave attains a height of up to 30 ft (9 m) and a speed of 25 mph (40 km/h).
South China Sea
it
OCEAN
tra on S
PACIFIC
TAIWAN
Luz Li is the family name for over 87 million people in China.
HONG KONG (Xianggang)
se r a n (pa
C Tropic of
N
other's territory)
TAIPEI T’aichung T’ainan
Shantou Dongguan Kaohsiung
Paracel Islands (disputed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam)
Hainan Dao
(Aomen)
Macao
Xiamen
Hengyang F U J I A N
Okinawa
(China and Taiwan
FUZHOU claim all of each
Shangrao Wenzhou
HANGZHOU
JIANGXI
Fuzhou
G UA N G D O N G
GUANGZHOU
Liuzhou
HUNAN
CHANGSHA
HAINAN
AM TN
118
CAMBODIA
THAILAND
V
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0 miles
LAOS
GU ANGXI Z HU A NGZU Z I Z HIQU
NANNING
KUNMING
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GUIZHOU
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The Giant Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, able to grow at the rate of 3 ft (90 cm) a day.
S a l w e en
an ve
lf ng
0 km
M ek
ong
h g S
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8
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YUNNAN
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118
H
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Jiaxing CHONGQING Ningbo E a s t Ch i n a Jingdezhen Yueyang Jinhua Leshan Zigong CHONGQING Sea g ZH EJ I A N G NANCHANG
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JIANGSU Cheju-do ZHENGZHOU Kaifeng Bengbu Ye l l o w
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Mianyang S i c h u a n
SICHUAN
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8
7
6
5
SOUTH & EAST ASIA
111
4
3
2
1
110
97
B
(under South Korean control)
Liancourt Rocks Kanazawa
Toyama
Obihiro
Nagano
Hokkaidó
Honshú
Morioka
Hachinohe
Hakodate
Tomakomai
Sendai
Hitachi Mito
Fukushima Kóriyama Iwaki
134
Ostrov Shikotan Nemuro Kushiro
Kitami
Ostrov Kunashir
Ostrov Iturup
Kurile Islands
E
(administered by the Russian Federation, claimed by Japan)
Sea of Okhotsk
JAPAN
Akita
Aomori
Otaru
Sapporo
Asahikawa
t
Abashiri
La P e ro u se Str ai
The Toyota Motor Corporation was first established in Niigata 1937 as a spin-off from Toyoda Automatic Loom Sado Works. The company now produces 8.5 million cars a year, equivalent to one every 3.7 seconds. Shinano-gawa
(East Sea)
Sea of Japan
97
D
Ostrov Sakhalin
Wakkanai Rebun-tó Rishiri-tó
Okushiri-tó
C
At 33.4 miles (53.8 km), 14.3 miles (23.3 km) of which lie under the Tsugaru Strait, the Seikan Tunnel is currently the longest tunnel in the world. Construction began in 1964 and took 24 years to complete.
C H I N A
A
A
RE
NORTH KO
SS RU
FE IA N
ION AT DE R
4
3
2
1
112 SOUTH & EAST ASIA
Japan
8
7
6
it
ra
Kagoshima
Tottori
Okayama
A
Okinawa Naha
Amami-Ó-shima
0 miles
0 km
D
C
O C E A N
B
200
Philippine Sea
The longest bridge in the world is the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge linking Honshu and Shikoku, with a central span of 6352 ft (1991 m); the total length shore to shore is 12,831 ft (3911 m), or 2.4 miles (3.9 km).
134
200
Aoga-shima
Hachijó-jima
E
On August 12, 1990, Typhoon Winona, combined with the summer vacation rush, created the longest traffic jam in Japan's history, an 84-mile long tailback involving about 15,000 vehicles.
Shingú
Wakayama
134
The same family has occupied the Imperial Throne of Japan for the last 1300 years. The present-day emperor, Akihito, is the 125th in succession.
TÓKYO Chiba Yokohama
Hamamatsu
Okazaki
Nagoya
Kawasaki
P A C I F I C
Kóbe Kyóto Ósaka
Fukui
Biwa-ko
134
Yaku-shima
Tanega-shima
Miyazaki
Kyúshú
Kumamoto
Tokuno-shima
tó
East China Sea
Ósumi-shotó
111
Hamada
Matsue
Oki-shotó
a Kurashiki re K o TsushimaHiroshima Yamaguchi Shimonoseki Kitakyúshú Matsuyama Tokushima Iki Kóchi Fukuoka Óita Shikoku Sasebo Nakamura Nagasaki
St
Gotó-rettó Amakusa-nada
Ry
t
re
ú-
tó ho s I z u
úk y
5
SOUTH KOREA
8
7
6
5
SOUTH & EAST ASIA
113
SOUTH & EAST ASIA
Southern India & Sri Lanka B
C
D
Mumbai
116
(Bombay)
Kalyán Nánded Nizámábád
Pune
r n s t e W e
Solápur
1
K ri
Belgaum Pánáji
A r a b i a n
Mangalore
Amíndívi Is. (part of India)
Anantapur Bangalore Vellore Mysore
Tamil
Salem
Keral a
The word ghats, literally “stairs that descend to a river,” refers to the stair-like appearance of the slopes of the Western Ghats mountain range, as they descend to the coastal plain.
Nágercoil
Ihavananthapuram Atoll
55 There are over 1300 islands in the Maldives but only about 200 are inhabited. All the islands are low-lying, none rising more than 6 ft (1.8m) above sea level. 0 km 0 miles
5
Kurnool
Nadu Kozhikode / Calicut Coimbatore Kavaratti I. TiruchchiErnákulam ráppalli Kalpeni I. Kochi / Cochin Madurai Thiruvananthapuram / Gulf Tivandrum of Minicoy I. Mannar
MALDIVES 4
Hubli
K arná t a ka
Lakshadweep
3
I N D I A
Dávangere
103
S e a
Hyderábád
n
s a t G h
2
sh
a
The Mumbai (Bombay) movie industry, known as Bollywood, makes around 900 films each year, compared to Hollywood's 100, making it the most prolific film-producing country in the world.
MALE’
Kolhumadulu Atoll
300
INDIAN
300
Equator
Huvadhu Atoll 123 A
B
n
A
D e c c a
114
C
D
SOUTH & EAST ASIA E áv
a
ri
ts
God
F
a Andhra h Pradesh n G Visákhapatnam er s t Rájahmundry a E Vijayawáda
G
H
117
B a y o f B e n g a l
M Y A N M AR (BURMA) M
Ongole Nellore
Chennai (Madras)
Kánchípuram
115
The Indian cobra is often displayed by snake charmers. The cobras appear to respond to the music played by the charmer, but, like all snakes, they are deaf and only follow the movements of the charmer.
1
o u t h of the s Ir ra w a ddy
North Andaman 119
Middle Andaman Port Blair
(part of India)
South Andaman
Pondicherry
Little Andaman Palk Strait
Andaman Sea
Jaffna
SRI LANKA
3
Mannar Trincomalee Batticaloa
Kandy COLOMBO Galle Matara
Nicobar Is. (part of India)
One of the world’s largest tea producers, Sri Lanka has over 8500 sq miles (22,000 sq km) of land under tea cultivation, yielding about 300,000 tons (tonnes) a year, and accounting for around 10 percent of global production.
OCEAN
Great Nicobar
Indira Point
INDONESIA Sumatra 120
4
Equator
5
At 7:58 am on December 26, 2004, an earthquake just off the coast of Sumatra measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale triggered a massive and devastating Tsunami that advanced across the Indian Ocean, killing over 200,000 people and leaving millions homeless in eleven countries.
123 E
2
Andaman Is.
F
G
H
SOUTH & EAST ASIA
116
North India & Pakistan A
B
C
D
(claimed by India)
104 The Karakoram Highway was finally completed in 1986 after 24,000 workers had toiled for almost 20 years. The road climbs to 15,397 ft (4693 m) at the Khunjerab Pass.
Hi nd
(A "line of control" was set between India and Pakistan in 1972)
u Kush
Ka
ra
In d us
ko
ra
K2 28,251ft
m (8611m)
R
Mardán Pesháwar ISLÁMÁBÁD Jamu & Ráwalpindi Jhelum Gujrát Kashmir AFGHANISTAN P u n j a b C h en á b Gujránwála Sargodha g Amritsar n Lahore Ra Jalandhar ka r á K a T ob Faisalábád Ludhiána Quetta Okára Chandígarh Dera Gházi Multán Khán Chágai H i l l s Meerut Baháwalpur Delhi Rahímyár Khán NEW DELHI Shikárpur us N In d Bíkáner e T h g a r De n Lárkána Ra s e Sukkur n r t Jaipur Ágra akrá M l a r Ajmer C e nt Jodhpur Gwalior Nawábsháh an
ge
e
1
2
102
P A K I S T A N
IRA 3
Rajásthán
0 km
4
103
200
0 miles
200
A r a b i a n
Rann nd hs o of Kachchh us f Gánhídhám G ul f of K a ch c h h G
Jámnagar
Porbandar
S e a
On January 26, 2001, a massive earthquake devastated the Gujarat region of India, costing some 25,000 lives.
5
Kota
Hyderábád
I n du
ut Mo e I th
Tropic of C ancer
s
Karáchi
I
N N a rma d
Bhávnagar Súrat G u lf of Kh ambh á t
Mumbai Ceasefire Line
A
(Bombay)
114 B
D
Bhopál Ahmadábád ujarát Indore Vadodara M a d h y a Rájkot a
Nágpur
Mahárashtra
Damán
Náshik Kalyán Pune
Nánded
D e c
Nizámábád
Solápur C
D
SOUTH & EAST ASIA E
F
XINJIANGUYGUR ZIZHIQU
The northern ranges of the Himalayas contain the highest mountains in the world, with average heights of more than 23,000 ft (7000 m) and many peaks higher than 26,000 ft (8000m).
H
Demchok/Dêmqog (administered by China, claimed by India)
XIZANG ZIZHIQU
i
The Kingdom of Bhutan is the only country in the world to measure the happiness of its citizens.
m
a l a
P
Uttar Pradesh
KATHMANDU Gangtok
A
L
Lucknow Yam
Kánpur un
Patna
Váránasi
a
Allahábád
I
Gaya
A
Dhanbád
Saidpur
Rájsháhi W e s t DHAKA Comilla Bengal
er
r
n
G
h
ah
ána dí
s at
i
Warangal E
Dispur
Kohíma
Ga
F
Imphál cer Tropic of Can
118
ng
e
B a y o f B e n g a l
Visákhapatnam
Sylhet
4
Chittagong
Khulna
Cuttack
st
ve
Ea
Godá
ma p u t r a
he Mou th s o f t M
c a
ah
(Calcutta)
Orissa
3
Guwáháti
BANGLADESH
Raipur
n
2
s
BHUTAN
Ganges Jamálpur
Kolkata
Pradesh
108
THIMPHU
Birátnagar
Bihár
Ránchi
Jabalpur
QINGHAI
Arunachal Pradesh (claimed by China)
a
y
Mount Everest 29,035ft (8850m)
E
A
s
Bareilly
N
1
Br
N
I
Cherrapunji, 4872 ft (1484 m) above sea level, has an average annual rainfall of 450 inches (1143 cm), although most of this falls during the monsoon – the winter is a virtual drought. The highest-ever seasonal rainfall was 904 inches (2298 cm).
(Tibet)
H
H
108
Aksai Chin (adminstered by China, claimed by India)
C
G
117
115 G
MYANMAR (BURMA) The heaviest hailstones on record, weighing about 2.25 lbs (1 kg), are reported to have killed 92 people in the Gopalganj area of Bangladesh on April 14, 1986. H
5
ng
m
Mawlamyine
Pi
n
H
I
N
Phôngsali
r
HANÓI
V
I
E
Huê
111
Ãa Nâng
Hông Gai Hai Phong Nam Ãinh Gulf of Tongking Vinh
Khanthabouli
Thakhèk
A
THAILAND
Khon Kaen
Sirikit Res. Udon Thani
VIENTIANE
Pek Xaignabouri
L
ve
Louangphabang
Xam Nua
Ri
E
Tropic of Cancer
A
Lang Sòn
Every year around 300–500 million poeple are infected with malaria from the bite of female Anopheles Mosquitos, of which between 1 and 3 million die, making this the deadliest animal in the world.
Mek on g
Chiang Mai
Na
M I r r o u t h s o f t h e Pyapon awa ddy
M
n
C
Around 60 percent of Myanmar’s cultivated land is given over to growing rice, producing almost 20 million tons (tonnes) each year.
111
D
O
Pa-an
Bago Thaton
e Ma
Pathein Yangon (Rangoon)
tou
Insein
Hinthada
lw
Toungoo Sit
Bay of Bengal
Pyay
NAY PYI TAW
e en
Taunggyi
Shan Plateau
Mandalay
( B U R M A )
Chauk
Monywa Pakokku
Sittwe
Ramree Island
Katha
Bhamo
M Y A N M A R
Tropic of Cancer
135
108
C
Ou
4
3
2
INDIA
in n
dw
in
Ch
ange
Ku mo nR
1
dy
I r raw ad
B
g
A
Bl
R ed k ac
er
Sa
R
iv
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4
3
2
1
118
Mainland Southeast Asia
SOUTH & EAST ASIA
T
S
g
A
C
E
A
A N
N
D
O
IA
C
ac
ca
S
I A
D
S
al
ng
Mo
u
of ths
th
e
M
South
0 km 0 miles
E
200 200
122
Hô Chi Minh
China Sea
B
E
fM
o
121
N
eko
Svay Riêng
Cân Thò
M
Ãa Lat Kâmpóng Cham
Following years of conflict, it is estimated that as many as 6 million landmines remain buried in the soils of Cambodia.
Rach Gia
Malay Peninsula
Y
121
Sumatra
IN it
I
ra
D
St
A
O
N
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Songkhla Pattani Hat Yai Yala
Trang
The world's smallest mammal is the bumblebee bat of Thailand, weighing less than 0.09 oz (2.5 g).
Ko Phuket Phuket
Surat Thani
Ko Phangan Ko Samui
Kâmpôt
PHNOM PENH
Kâmpóng Saôm
A
I
115
Nicobar Islands (part of India)
Andaman Sea
Chumphon
M L
8
7
6
Isthmus of Kra
Gulf of Thailand
C A M B O DIA
Kâmpóng Chhnâng
g
Sên
on
ng
Ko Chang
A M
ek
Bangkok has some of the worst traffic jams in the world. In July 1992, after a monsoon storm, it took 11 hours for one Mergui Archipelago jam to clear.
M e k ong
e
nl
N
5
Attapu Ubon Nakhon Sawan Nakhon Ratchathani Srinagarind Ratchasima Muang Không ôn Res. Ayutthaya K g Dawei Phumî S t œe BANGKOK Quy Nhòn Tô Sâmraông Bâtdâmbang Ratchaburi Stœng Treng Tônlé Sap Chon Buri Pattaya Nha Trang Myeik
8
7
6
5
SOUTH & EAST ASIA
119
SOUTH & EAST ASIA
120
Maritime Southeast Asia A
B
C
119
O Paracel Islands
S V
1
Gulf of Tongking
L A
M YA N M A R (BURMA)
D
400
T
THAILAND 400
N
0 miles
CAMBODIA
Kuala Lumpur - Capital Putrajaya - Administrative capital Andaman
122
The Rafflesia plant has the largest single flower in the world. The bloom, 3 ft (90 cm) in diameter, attracts insects by imitating Balabac the foul smell of rotting flesh.
so
(to India)
mu
Nicobar Islands
Spratly Islands (disputed by China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam)
Gulf of Thailand
Is t h
Sea
fK
ra St rai George to f M Town a la c ca
Kota Bharu Kuala Terengganu Taiping Ipoh Kuantan Medan Klang KUALA LUMPUR Pematangsiantar
Bandaaceh
3
at
ar Jambi im Palembang a t a
K
I
Pulau Belitung
N
Borneo
B
ha
ya
n
ka
m
Samarinda a n Balikpapan ta n
Banjarmasin
D
Jav a S e a Pulau Tegal Laut JAKARTA Pekalongan M aka ssar Sela Semarang a d t Sun Kudus Surabaya Bogor Mataram Sukabumi Jember Bandung Denpasar Jawa Cilacap Malang BaliPulau (Java) Magelang Lombok Kediri Yogyakarta Madiun Surakarta sa
123
Ka a
Sel
Bangka
uas Ka p K al im
S a unga n P eg uMu l l e r
n
Bandar Lampung
In August 1883, a devastating volcanic eruption destroyed most of the island of Krakatau and triggered a tsunami that claimed around 35,000 lives.
A
n g H ari
ri
Bengkulu
O C E A N
5
Kuching
Ba
I N D I A N
Johor Bahru
an
la pu w Ke enta M
ua ai n
122
B a ta
BRUNEI
M A L A Y SSibuI A r a w a kn
SINGAPORE Pekanbaru Pontianak
ng
Pulau Siberut
nu
( S u m a t r a ) Padang
Kota Kinabalu BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Sab
M
Pulau Nias
S u ma tera
gu
Equator
Pe
Pulau Simeulue Danau Toba PUTRAJAYA Sibolga
4
South China Sea
AM
MALAYSIA'S TWO CAPITALS
2
(disputed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam)
IE
0 km
C
D
SOUTH & EAST ASIA E
F
G
L u z o n Str a it
B abuy an Channel
H
112
P h i l i p p i n e
Tuguergarao
121
Northern
Ilagan
S e a Mariana Luzon Islands Dagupan The Philippines take their name from Philip II (to US) Angeles Cabanatuan of Spain, who was king when the islands were MANILA colonized during the 16th century. Lucena Batangas Naga Guam (to US) Legazpi City PHILIPPINES Mindoro SMindoro tr Sibuyan Calbayog Sea Roxas City Tacloban P A C I F I C Cadiz 126 Iloilo Yap Bacolod Cebu Peurto City a Butuan e Princesa S O C E A N B ohol Palawan Cagayan de Oro Strait Sulu Sea Iligan Mindanao Babeldaob MICRONESIA Davao Zamboanga
1
Baguio
go
Pa Pa ssa law ge a n
ait
ela
Da
ch
ip
va
General Santos
Tawau
Celebes Sea
Se a
Halmahera u Sea
Sea ( r a m Wahai M
Ambon
N Kendari E Pulau Pulau Buton
l
Pulau S Seram
Buru
a Banda Se
Kepulauan Kai
r a r Wetar Kepulauan Flores Sea Tanimbar g a o e n g auan Al Strai t l N u s a T Ke pu DILI
Flores
Sea Savu
at Sumba Sel
Kepulauan Leti
EAST TIMOR
Timor Kupang Ti m or S ea
Pulau Sumba
E
F
ga
iM
Jayapura am
Pe g u n u n ga n M a
I
A
)
Parepare Makassar
o
Pulau Biak
Sorong Jazirah Doberai
ku
as
ra
Ce
al
cc
St
Kepulauan Sula
M
u
O it
M Kepulauan Banggai
3
Equator
Pulau Halmahera
n
(Celebes)
u ol
Su
Sulawesi
Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, with over 17,500 islands stretching 3100 miles (5000 km) between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Pulau Morotai
cc
Gorontalo
Gulf of Tomini
u lf
Kepulauan Talaud
Manado
Palu
PALAU
oG
a
Sul
r uA
K ep u Sa n l au a n gir
ah
2
Kepulauan Aru
bera
ok e
126
mo
4
PAPUA Papua NEW (Irian Jaya) G U I NE A
Ne w Gui nea D ig u
l
Pulau Yamdena
A r a f u r a 130
S e a
Tor
res Strait
A U S T R A L I A G
H
5
Eu
ra
te
Cau
s
ca
Aden
Pe ni ns u la
al m So Ba
Ca rls be rg
s du
e
R
MALDIVES
B asin
Arabian
Arabian Sea
se y
137
A S I A
ni
D
Lake Baikal
i
m G a n ge s
Sri Lanka
an lau i pu a Ke ntaw e M
British Indian Ocean Territory (to UK)
Cocos Basin
ng
tz e
Tr
en
ch
E a s t a
Ri
r
134
ve
Sea
South China
Java
Jav
a Se a
I n d i e s
Singapore Equator Borneo
Gulf of Thailand
J
av
Yello w
E
Tropic of Cancer Hong Kong (Xianggang)
Ya
tra
ma
M i d - I n d i an
Ceylon Plain
Bay of Bengal
Fan
Brahm
l a y a p u t r as a
Kolkata (Calcutta) Ganges
a
Colombo
Mumbai (Bombay)
H
With no part of the Maldives over 7ft 7in (2.3 m) above sea level, they are under great threat from global warming. There are over 2000 islands, yet the total land area is only 115 sq miles (298 sq km).
Lake Balkhash
C
Su
ar
M Mombasa as SEYCHELLES c Aldabra Group
AFRICA
H ighlands
en of Ad Gulf Horn of Ethi opian Africa
Equator
Iranian Plateau
s u Caspian s Sea
Aral Sea
In
Gu Karachi lf G ul f of Oman Ind Dubai u Mina' A r ab ia n Qabus
Kuwait
ph
Tropic of Cancer
63
Black Sea
ga
137
B
g
4
3
2
1
l
Vo
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n
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4
3
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1
122 OCEANS
The Indian Ocean
I nv es t i g at o r
ge id
M i d -
en
e
8
A
0 miles
0 km
Antarctic Circle
Banzare Seamounts
B
136
1500 1500
C
ge Di am
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an
dg
R i d g e
D
134
E
Antarctic Circle
Limit of summer pack ice
Limit of winter pack ice
South Indian Basin
I n d i a n
ANTARCTICA 136
Tropic of Capricorn
Perth Basin Fremantle
e
Naturaliste a F Plateau ract ure Zon e
Ri
Exmouth Plateau
North Australian Basin
Every cubic mile (4.3 cu km) of seawater holds over 150 million tons (tonnes) of minerals.
oken Rid
S o u t h e a s t
u
The largest animal ever seen alive was a 110 ft (34 m), 170-ton (tonne) female blue whale.
i n P l a
e
Br
m
Basin
(to Australia)
Christmas Island
W h art on
(to Australia)
Cocos Islands
Amsterdam Island Île St-Paul
ea
y e r b E n d
(to Australia)
Heard & Mcdonald Islands
French Southern & Antarctic Territories Crozet Ke (to France) rg Islands u
Crozet Basin
at
In icant sin Atl Ba
49
t
OCEAN
n
n dia
th
es
id
Osborn Plateau
B as i n N i n e t y e a s t
INDIAN
le Pl
7
S
ou
w
In
d
i
an
Natal Madagascar Basin Madagascar Basin Plateau
R
(to France)
ge
MAURITIUS Réunion
Farafangana
ne re ca as in M Pla
e d g R i
6
(to France)
scar
aga
Mad
5
Moza m Chan bique nel
COMOROS Mascarene Basin Mayotte
ia
nd
ge
tI
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Plateau
ALA
a n I n d i STR
Ridge
AU
Lake Nyasa
8
7
6
5
OCEANS
123
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
124
Australasia & Oceania B
C
107
Wake Island
Northern Mariana Islands
(to US)
(to US)
1
M
Saipan
P h i l i p p i n e
i
Guam
t
D
i
VANUATU Vanua Levu
Espiritu Santo Malekula
Viti Levu
Efate
New Caledonia (to France)
FIJI
ng e
Ra
g li n ar
rray
Lord Howe Island
Mount Kosciuszko 7310ft (2228m)
S tr a it
Gr
Bass
North Cape
(to Australia)
la
Mu
(to Australia)
n g Ra ge
Gr ey
Norfolk Island
in
D
s ell
TUVALU
Santa Cruz Islands
f
ul
a
id
N
i
SOLOMON I s ISLANDS la
v
tA
KIR IB A TI
ee
ea
ng T u lbert
on
Is r u lan ds )
Banaba
R
Simpson Desert
(Ayers Rock) Gibson D e s e r t L. Eyre North Great V i c t o r i a L. Torrens Desert ain Pl o r l i an B i g h t b r tra Kangaroo us Island
Tasman Sea
North Island
NEW ZEALAND South Island Aoraki (Mt Cook) 12,283ft (3744m)
Tasmania
Cape Leeuwin
B
Antipodes Islands
Auckland Islands
136 A
om
a
a
r
5
in
New Caledonia
ie
n icor apr of C c i op Tr
Uluru
(to Australia)
rr
123
nn c do e M a a ng R
a
Great Sandy Desert
OC EAN
S ol
s
B
Peninsula G re a
AUSTRALIA
I N D IAN
s
go
Coral Sea Coral Sea Islands
at
Gulf of Arnhem Cape Land Carpentaria York
(to Australia)
ai
S t r a i t GUINEA
re
Timor Sea
Ch
Cha
NAURU
nd
r r es
G
Flores
To
ik
(Gi
ela
PAPUA NEW Guadalcanal
Arafura Sea
Timor
Ashmore & Cartier Islands
4
e
New Britain Solomon Sea
New Guinea
B a n d a S e a
e
ak
n
Mount Wilhelm 14,793ft (4509m)
al
i
B i s m a r c k A r c h ip Bismarck Sea
Celebes
3
l
e
M
Celebes Sea
tor Equa
n
s
PALAU
Borneo
Rat
o
Chuuk Pohnpei Islands Kosrae I s l a n d s a Nauru n
C a r o l i n e
Babeldaob
107
r
R
2
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MICRONESIA
Yap
Sulu Sea
c
(to US)
S e a Philippines
D
International Dateline
A
(to New Zealand)
C
D
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA E
F
G
Hawaii an (to U Islan S) ds Johnston Atoll
125
H
107
(to US)
1
P A C I F I C
Kingman Reef
O C E A N
a
(to US) (to US)
Teraina Tabuaeran Kiritimati
i
(to US)
L
in
Jarvis Island
KIR
Tokelau
s
Malden Island Starbuck Island
s n d l a TI I s IBA
P hoe nix Islan ds
e
(to US)
K I RI B A T I
International Da teline
Palmyra Atoll Baker & Howland Islands
134
2
Equato
r
3
ds
n
e
Norther n Co Penrhyn (to NZ) Millennium Wallis & ok Island Isla Futuna Marquesas Islands Manihiki nd Flint Island s (to France) SAMOA Cook Islands American (to NZ) Tua TONGA Samoa mo (to US) So tu Vava‘u c Isl i Group et s an d n a l s Niue y Tahiti kI o o I (to NZ) C sl n r e a h t Tongatapu u S o Rarotonga Group Île s A French Polynesia us (to France) tra Kermadec Islands l Pitcairn (to New Zealand) Islands Marotiri (to UK) n
y
ds
es
l
134
Pitcairn Island
Tro pic
o
4
of C apr ico rn
P 0 km 0 miles
1000 1000
Chatham Islands (to New Zealand)
5
136 E
F
G
H
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
126
The Southwest Pacific B
C
re
nc
134
Guam
D
h
A
T
1
M i ri Ma c Caroline Islands r
in
n
121
Cha
ai
e
s
Kosrae
The Pitohui bird has a poison on its feathers and skin similar to the poison arrow tree frog, making it the only known example of a poisonous bird.
i
2
n
Majuro
Ch
MICRONESIA
PALAU
Pohnpei PALIKIR
lik
Chuuk Is.
MELEKEOK
o
tak
Yap
s
Ra
a an
Ra
MARSHALL ISLANDS
(US unincorporated territory) HAGÅTÑA
a NAURU
Equator
Banaba
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Bismarck Archip New Ireland elag o
I ND ON E S IA
Mt Wilhelm 14,793ft (4509m)
3
l
a
n Santa Cruz Islands
e
Solomon Sea HONIARA
S e a
a
C o r a l
i
SOLOMON ISLANDS
s
T o r r e s S t r ai t
Gulf of Carpentaria
128
e
Bougainville I. New New Britain Georgia Lae Islands
PORT MORESBY
A r a f u r a S e a
M
Madang
New Guinea
4
BAIRIKI Tarawa
Banks Is.
Found only in the rainforest of New Guinea, VANUATU Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, with a wingspan of 11 inches (280 mm), is the G Coral Sea Islands PORT VILA re (Australian external largest butterfly in the world. New Caledonia a t
territory)
B
(French overseas territory)
ar
AUSTRALIA
ri er
5
Re
NOUMÉA
A
131 B
ef
Tropic of Capricorn
Îles Loyauté
C
D
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA E
F
G
127
H
135
O C E A N
Kingman Reef
Palmyra Atoll
(administered by US)
(administered by US)
Teraina Tabuaeran
(G il b
Baker & Howland Is.
ru g a ds) T u nr t Is l a n
(administered by US)
Jarvis I.
e
(administered by US)
L
i
n
135
Equator
e s
l a
KIRIBATI
(NZ dependent territory)
Vostok I.
P o Wallis l y n & Futuna SAMOA e s i (French overseas PAGO ÁPIA territory) PAGO (US unincorporated territory)
Vava‘u Group
135
a
Cook Islands (in free assoc. (in free assoc. with NZ) Southern with NZ)
ALOFI
NUKU‘ALOFA
F r e n c h P o l yn e sia
4
(French overseas Îles de l a S o territory) c ié té PAPEETE Tahiti
Cook Is.
AVARUA
0 km
Rarotonga
500
0 miles
135 F
Millennium I.
Flint I.
Northern Cook Is.
Niue
Ha‘apai Group
TONGA
E
3
Tokelau American Samoa
SUVA
s
FONGAFALE
Viti Levu
d
Samoa is home to the world’s smallest known spider, the Patu marplesi, which spans a mere 0.017 inches (0.4 mm).
TUVALU
Vanua Levu
n
Phoenix Islands
2
Kiritimati
I
K I R I B A T I
FIJI
1
In 1995, the International Date Line was repositioned around Kiribati territory, bringing Millennium Island 14 hours ahead of GMT, making it the first landfall for sunrise at the dawn of the new millennium.
International Dateline
International Dateline
P A C I F I C
G
500
Tropic of Capricorn
H
5
N
D
N
E
S
N D
E
A
Tropic of Capricorn
esc
ue
Onslow Ri v er Hamers ley As h Ra bu ng rt e rle o n R eR ange i v e r
Fort
M
ile
E
S
T G i b s o n
Newman
W
A
N
Percival Lakes
Kununurra
Lake Mackay
E
Alice Springs
T E R R I T O R Y ges Ran l l e n Macdon
N O R T H E R N
Tennant Creek
Tanami Desert
Daly Waters Top Springs Roadhouse
Katherine
Land
Arnhem
130
Croker Island
Arafura Sea
Van Diemen Gulf
Vi c t o r ia
Halls Creek
dy Des ert
Fitzroy Crossing
Plateau
oy River
R
Wyndham
Kimberley
San
tzr
DARWIN
Bathurst Island
Melville Island
Cape Londonderry Joseph Bonaparte Pine Creek Gulf
S e a
T i m o r
Lake Disappointment D e s e r t
E
eat
Fi
Heywood Islands
Ki n
Bonaparte Archipelago
Gr
Broome
Marble Bar
E ighty
N
I A N
Port Hedland Dampier
O C
Exmou t
I
I
121
D
On Christmas Day, 1974, Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin with winds of up to 175 mph (280km/h), resulting in 71 deaths, thousands of injuries, and 95 percent of the city destroyed.
O
C
One of the largest states in the world, with an area of more than 1,000,000 sq miles (2.6 million sq km), Western Australia covers a third of the Australian continent.
ulf hG
Exmouth
123
I
120
B
d oun
4
3
2
1
A
h
gS
ac
Ri v e r
Be
4
3
2
1
128 AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
Western Australia
Ba
8
7
6
5
0 miles
0 km
123
A
Moora
h
A U
S
Ra
Lake Moore
Lake Barlee
T
ng e Meekatharra s
Ro b i n s o n
Mount Magnet
R i ve r
S
Albany
Wagin Katanning Manjimup
A
L
I
Esperance
Lake
A
Reid
eat
136 D
B
O C E A N
E
Penong Ceduna
Australian Bi ght
Eucla
r Plain
The Nullarbor Plain is so flat that the Trans-Australian Railway runs through it in a dead straight line for 297 miles (478 km), the longest section of straight track in the world.
Gr
arbo
Coober Pedy
131
Port Lincoln
Elliston
Lake Gairdner
A U S T R A L I A
Residents of Coober Pedy have built their homes below ground to escape temperatures that can reach 113˚F (45˚C) during the summer months.
C
ges
S O U T H
n Mus grav e R a
(Ayers Rock) 2845ft (867m)
LAmadeus I Uluru
Great Victoria Desert
A
ll Nu
Lake Rebecca
Lake Carey
R
Lake Wells
A
136
400
I N D I A N 400
R
Lake Carnegie
T
Coolgardie Kalgoorlie Lake Cowan Merredin Southern Northam Cross Norseman Brookton
n is o
U
Around 18 percent of Australia is covered in desert, the biggest being The Great Victoria Desert, which at 163,900 sq miles (424,400 sq km) is over 10 times the size of Belgium.
Augusta
Bunbury Busselton
Gingin PERTH Fremantle Mandurah
Geraldton
Kalbarri
Island
Mur
c
A
L. Macleod Carnarvon Shark Bay Denham Dirk Hartog
8
7
6
5
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
129
Winton
Hughenden
R
A Windorah
L
A
Biloela
Emerald
Tropic of Capricorn
Bundaberg Fraser Island
Rockhampton
Mackay
S e a Coral Sea Islands (to Australia)
Bowen Whitsunday Group
Clermont
Charters Towers
Townsville
Barcaldine
Tambo
I
i
C o r a l Hinchinbrook Island
Cairns
f
Simpson
Longreach
Q U E E N S L A N D
y
T
lw
S
Se
U
r
e
A
d
ve
g
e
2845ft (867m)
Ri
e
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
rs ge
e ng Ra
an
Tully
an g R n i d Divi
es Macdonnell Rang
an de
n Cloncurry R
n F li
Mount Isa
er
Port Douglas
Cooktown
r
Alice Springs
el
ry
T E R R I T O R Y
Burketown
Ri v
v
Normanton G re go
rt
Ri
Koalas feed only on nutrient-poor eucalypt leaves and consequently have evolved a low energy lifestyle based around sleeping for 20 hours each day.
r
Tennant Creek
l ab
e R
4
T
l be
ll
E
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest area of coral islands and reefs, running for about 1,240 miles (2,000 km) along the coast of Queensland. 126
r
Tanami Desert
ly
Gi
he
at G r e er
N O R T H E R N
rk
itc
a
3
Ba
M
B
Top Springs Roadhouse
Wellesley Islands
Bay
Cape York Princess Peninsula Charlotte
t
Carpentaria
Gulf of
Groote Eylandt
Strait Cape York
a
Daly Waters
Pine Creek Katherine
Ar n h e m Land
Torres
126
D
The venom of the box jellyfish (also known as the sea wasp or marine stinger) can kill a person in between 30 seconds and four minutes.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
e
128
Wessel Islands
IND O N E S I A
C
G
DARWIN
Arafu ra Sea
121
B
r
2
1
A
4
3
2
1
130
Eastern Australia
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
8
0 miles
0 km
129
Port Lincoln
Whyalla Eyre Peninsula
y
Lake Frome
R ie r
Bourke
Cunnamulla
r w on
Ri
er
v Moree Walgett Armidale Tamworth Nyngan
Ba
Miles Dalby
Toowoomba Goondiwindi
St. George
Roma
Grafton
Coast
Murwillumbah
Gold
BRISBANE Surfer's Paradise
Maryborough
Ouyen
rr
Portland
ay
Wagga Wagga
l ra st ps Au Al MELBOURNE
Mount Kosciuszko 7310ft (2228m)
River
Geelong
Ballarat
V I C T OR I A
Horsham Bendigo
ADELAIDE
T a s m a n
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Cooma
Wollongong CANBERRA
A
D
B
C
136
136
400
S e a
E
134
rr Coffs Harbour Ba Wilcannia Broken Port Macquarie Port N E W S O U T H Hill Augusta Ivanhoe Dubbo at Peterborough R i ve r re hlan Newcastle Crystal Brook G Lac r ay R i v e r Gosford M ur Mildura W A L E S Parramatta Gawler SYDNEY Cootamundra
Mount Gambier
Kangaroo Island
re
Charleville ge
it
Traralgon Huge truck rigs known as Warrnambool South East Point Road Trains, which can reach King Island B a s s Strait up to 175 ft (53.5 m) in length, Flinders Island Ba carry freight across the vast nk s Marrawah distances of the Australian interior. Burnie S t r a They have as many as four Devonport trailers, weighing more than Launceston The platypus lives in an aquatic 150 tons (tonnes) in total. environment, suckles its young TASMANIA like a mammal, lays eggs, and HOBART has webbed feet and a bill 400 resembling that of a duck.
Ceduna
Lake Gairdner
G
Marree Lake Callabonna
Lake Blanche
n Ra
u
7
6
Tarcoola
Penong
Lake Torrens
-16m
AU S TR A L I A
Lake Great Coober Eyre V ic toria Pedy North Deser t Lake Eyre South
SO U TH
ulf
rG
iv
D
5
Desert
n
Darl i n River g
M
ia
Sp en ce
Flin d Ran ers ges
e
an g
ge
Ran
ng
id i
M usgrave Ranges
8
7
6
5
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
131
4
3
2
131
a
S
s e
m a
a
n
127
D
E
I s l an d Takapuna
Whitianga
Great Barrier Island
Ruatoria
Stratford Hawke Napier Bay Taihape South Taranaki Hawera i Hastings ke Bight it i g Waipawa n Wanganui Cape Farewell Palmerston North Woodville Tasman Levin Cape Turnagain Bay Paraparaumu Masterton
NEW ZEALAND
135
East Cape
a Rotorua m Te Kuiti ku g R au R a n North Taranaki More than 46 million sheep thrive in New Zealand’s Taupo Bight Gisborne mild climate, outnumbering the human Lake New Plymouth Taumarunui Taupo Wairoa population by 12 to 1.
Cambridge Rotorua
Paeroa
Ba y o f Plen ty Tauranga Lake Whakatane
Manurewa
Hamilton
Waiuku
Auckland
Hauraki Gulf
Whangarei
Paihia
Warkworth
Ruawai
Kaikohe
Kaitaia
The lizardlike tuatara is found on some of the islands and rocky stacks off New Zealand. It is the sole remaining representative of the reptilian order Three Kings Sphenodontia, which first evolved before the Islands dinosaurs. It has a third “eye” on the top of North Cape its head, which is sensitive to light. Great Exhibition Te Kao Bay
C
Around 130 CE, something in the order of 33 billion tons (tonnes) of pumice was ejected in a massive volcanic eruption that left a 20,000 sq mile (51,800 sq km) debris field and created an enormous caldera that subsequently became Lake Taupo.
N o r t h
Ninety Mile Beach is in fact only about 55 miles (88 km) long. Nevertheless, this still makes it one of the longest sandy beaches in the world.
T
127
B
Ra
1
A
es ra
4
3
2
1
132
New Zealand
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
Te Anau
South West Cape
A
St
ra
100
it
100
Stewart Island
x
0 miles
a
ar
Kaikoura
ai
Otago Peninsula
Dunedin
Lower Hutt
I s lan d
New Zealand has always been a leader in progressive social legislation. In 1893, it was the first country to grant women the right to vote.
Cape Palliser
WELLINGTON
O
A
C
C
E
A
I F
N
I C
136 D
136 B
C
The Kakapo is a nocturnal flightless parrot that lives in burrows. When in danger, its main form of defense is to remain perfectly still, which made it an easy target for predators such as the dogs, cats, rats, and ferrets that were introduced in the 19th century. Consequently, it is in danger of extinction; in 2009 there were only 125 birds left in the wild.
P
E
135
The royal albatross colony on Otago Peninsula is the only mainland nesting site for these birds in the world. Soaring on wings up to 9’6’’ (3 m) across, breeding pairs mate for life and have been known to live for over 60 years.
h
Christchurch
Pegasus Rangiora Bay
Cl
s lain Banks yP Mayfield rbur e Ashburton Peninsula t an Canterbury Fairlie S ou t Timaru Bight
12,283 (3744m)
Balclutha
Mosgiel
Invercargill
Gore
Lumsden
au
Halfmoon Bay
F ove
Riverton
au Wai
0 km
th
a
8
o
Cl u t h
131
S
u
ai
ta Wanaka Studholme Lake ki Wakatipu Queenstown Lake Te Oamaru Anau Alexandra
Milford Sound
Lake Wanaka
Haast
ak
Hu ru n u i
Otira
n e rAoraki (Mt Cook)
W
7
6
M
Fox Glacier
A
s l pR
Though still the highest peak in New Zealand, at 12,316 ft (3754 m), a massive rock Greymouth fall in 1991 reduced the Hokitika height of Aoraki (Mount Cook) by 33 ft (10 m).
nd
la
d un So
rd
5
d or ilf eri
ait
C
Str
T ai
a
W
Cook
Fio
Motueka Picton Karamea Bight Richmond nge a Seddonville d R u Blenheim n Westport mo ira ch Ri ce Reefton en
8
7
6
5
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
133
134
OCEANS
The Pacific Ocean A
B
C
D
137
Arctic Circle
B er
Tropic of Cancer
Ea
a in e Ch Tr yu k u Ry
st
Taiwan
Japan
ku iko S h as in B
Hong Kong (Xianggang)
Northern Mariana Islands (to US)
gh
Midway Islands (to US) Haw
Mid
ai t Str
Bering Aleutian S e a nds Basin sla Aleutian I nch e r T n Aleutia ou Tr ook C hi n o docin Men
a
Yan
2
h
107
Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is 35,838 ft Sea of Okhotsk (10,923 m), or almost 7 miles (11 km), below the surface of the Pacific. At this depth water pressures ds ch an Isl r e n is around 16,000 lbs/sq inch (1,127 kg/cm sq). fic ile T r u ac i K P le Vladivostok an i i t p r s b a ) u e J Go K a f e w in th s ao S er S e E ast or B a ( A S I A Y e llow Ri v Tokyo N Yellow Osaka Shanghai Sea Se Nagoya g t ze nc
1
i ng
Wake Island (to US)
a ii an
Ri dg e
ar i en ana ch
ong
il i a Ph B
Me k
Johnston Atoll Philippine (to US) Guam Sea Manila MARSHALL (to US) ISLANDS M r M i c r Philippines pp T C e ntr a l i o n sin ne Challenger Deep Pa c i f i c Kingman Reef South China 35,838ft (10,923m) MICRONESIA e Ba s i n Baker &(to US) Sea s C a r o l i n e I sl Celebes PALAU ands Melanesian i Singapore Howland Is. Sea Basin a Equator (to US) Jarvis I. Borneo (to US) Celebes NAURU M K I R IBA TI tr E a s t I n d i e s e a l a New Java Sea Banda Tokelau (to NZ) Guinea n TUVALU Sea A Jakarta Java SOLOMON e ra f & Futuna SAMOA ur s Wallis (to Timor ISLANDS aS France) i American Timor ea C oral S ea a Samoa Sea tB Coral Sea (to US) VANUATU ar Gr Islands r Cook INDIAN ea ier (to Australia) FIJI TONGA Islands New Caledonia (to NZ) (to France) Tropic of Capricorn Niue Kermadec Islands (to NZ) OCEAN Norfolk (to NZ) o Island 123 Great (to Australia) Mu P Sydney rr ay r a l i an B i g h t t s o u we A Tasman North Island 0 km 2000 South Australian Sea New Tasmania Hobart Basin Zealand Chatham Islands 0 miles 2000 South Island (to NZ) Campbell Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii rises 33,132 ft Plateau (10,098 m) from the ocean floor to its peak 13,677 ft -Pacif
ic Mountains
P A C I
Su
m
a
3
ea Gr
ivi
ef Re
tD
d i ng
dH L o r R is e
Pac
Antarctic Circle
136 A
B
ANTARCTICA C
ine nal Datel
(4169 m) above the surface of the Pacific Ocean, and contains around 9,700 cubic miles (39,731 cu km) of rock.
io Internat
5
Ran ge
A U S T R A L A S I A
4
ific-
Antarct
D
ic
OCEANS E
F
G
H
137 R
Anchorage
o
c
k
Hudson Bay
y M
Gulf of Alaska
o
u
Vancouver
t
a
s
Zone
San Francisco ct y Fra Murra
one ure Z Long Beach
G
Gulf of Mexico
fo ul
one racture Z olokai F
ali fC
M Hawaiian Islands e (to US) ture Zon n Frac Clario
nia fo r
F I C
1
Pacific giant kelp can grow up to 18 inches (45 cm) a day, and may eventually reach up to 200 ft (60 m), or 34 times the height of the average man.
n
Fracture
n
Arctic Circle Labrador Sea
NORTH AMERICA
i
Cascadia Basin
135
O C E A N
Mid
ATLANTIC OCEAN Greater
Ant
Carib
dle T r e Am er i c nch a
48 2
Tropic of Cancer ille
s
bean Sea
R i s e
s
u-
Ch
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3
Per
i
a
one Panama City Clipperton Island Palmyra The Pacific Equatorial ure Z Guatemala Fract (to France) Atoll (to US) rton Counter Current flows Clippe Basin eastward toward South Kiritimati Zone e (Christmas Island) r America, carrying up u t rac Galapagos Islands agos F to 40 million tons Galap Gallego Rise (to Ecuador) KIRIBATI (tonnes) of warm water Marquesas Islands Marquesas Bauer with it every second. Galapagos Penrhyn Basin u re Zon e e Rise Basin Callao n Tiki Fract Zo e r u ct Tahiti French Basin a Fra SOUTH al M e n d añ Polynesia Au s tr o ne eZ (to France) Sala y Gomez r act ur F Isla San Ambrosio y AMERICA (to Chile) (to Chile) Îles Ea s t e r F r a c tu r e Z o n e Tropic of Capricorn A u Îles Gambier Pitcairn Islands l Isla San Félix str (to UK) Easter Island ale (to Chile) s (to Chile) 49 Islas Juan Fernández Valparaiso e (to Chile) Southwest le re Zon Fractu hi Ch Pacific Agassiz C ile Basin Ri se il
s
e
d
E
a
A
s t
n
B
P
as
in
ench
a c i f i c
Tr
n
e
4
Elta
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Am
E
Frac
ture
Zon
Mornington Abyssal Plain
e
S outheast s haus en Pla in Belling P a c ific Basin Peter I Island Plain (to Norway) undsen
F
Drake
Cape Horn
Passage
Limit of winter pack ice
5
136 G
Limit of summer
pack ice
Antarctic Circle
H
POLAR REGIONS
136
Antarctica A
C
B
48
ATLANTIC OCEAN South Georgia (to UK)
T SOU
INDIAN
HERN OCEA N Antarctic Circle
En
Lazarev Sea
Weddell Plain
Weddell Sea
PACIFIC OCEAN
Am u n ds e n P l ai n
Ross Sea
ice
pac k
s
134
Wilkes Land
ain
Ross Ice Shelf
e
4
M
Victoria Land
me r
d
Shackleton Ice Shelf
Antarctica
Terre Adélie
135
su m
Lan
South Geomagnetic Pole
nt
c k ic er pa
rd
t ic
ou
By
rc
Davis Sea
East
of
ie
ta
Princess Elizabeth Land
it
West Antarctica
ar
South a n Pole
ns
summ
Amundsen Sea
Tra
f Limit o
Ellsworth Land
M
Mackenzie Bay
ANTARCTICA
im
La
sula nd
Ronne Ice Shelf
Bellingshausen Sea Peter I Island (to Norway)
122
Land
in
r
Alexander Island
3
Coats Land
ar
cti c Pal P en me
Ground visibility in the Antarctic during the summer months can be as much Enderby as 150 miles (250 km).
ice
nt
e it of s um mer pack ic
y
sum me r
ck pa
A
Li m
Dronning Mau d Land
n
South Shetland Islands
rb
Limit of
ai
48
OCEAN de
Pl
South Orkney Islands
2
pac k
Atlantic-Indian Basin
South Sandwich Islands (to UK)
Scotia Sea
Limit of wi nter
ice
1
D
George V
L
Land The largest iceberg of recent times broke off from the Ross Ice Shelf The world's windiest place is reputed in the spring of 2000. It was about to be Commonwealth Bay, George V 186 miles (300 km) from end to Land, where wind speeds of 200 mph end and 25 miles (40 km) wide. (320 km/h) have been recorded. Paci f ic - An tar c ti c Ridge NP
5
134 A
B
PLOHV
C
D
POLAR REGIONS
137
Arctic
E
F
G
Provideniya ing
Chukchi Sea e
lf Beaufort
leyev
Chukchi Plateau
Sea
Canada
Makarov Basin
Ba n
se
n
mm er su
VI II
94 a
Svalbard
Tr
4
o u gh
(to Norway)
(to Norway)
e win ter p ack ic
h
dg
e
62
Barents Sea
North Cape
Norwegian Sea
RW
Mo
Ri ns
(to Norway)
NO
Jan Mayen
Bjørnøya
Greenland Sea
A
Murmansk
Y
Archangel N
E U R O P E
D
E
mark Strait
Novaya Zemlya
f
LA
Den
it o
FIN
en
Longyearbyen
The Arctic Lion’s Mane is the world’s largest jellyfish, 7 ft (2.1 m) in diameter. Its main body trails tentacles up to 180 ft (55 m) in length.
PLOHV
an
Spitsbergen
Lim it of
per m
L im
Ko
ng
it of
ly
Lim
Z em
Wandel Sea
Ostrov Belyy
aya
NP
a
tp
d
N
E as t N o v
ou n
Lincoln Sea
Kara S e a Dikson
Sv
Franz yTataya An Josef Land rough na ic e
t er S
O C E A N
Kn ud R a smu s se n Land
Greenland
2
3
sin
North Pole
Ellesmere Island
Fr Lan eder d ik
L a nc as
Islands
(to Denmark)
Severnaya Zemlya
A R C T I C
Elizabeth
ice
Queen
Baffin Bay
I
95
pac k
CANADA
16
T
The Arctic Ocean is the world's smallest ocean, with a total area of 5,440,000 sq miles (15,1000,000 sq km), and is almost permanently covered by pack ice.
Basin Victoria Island
Baffin Island
A
Novosibirskiye Ostrova
ac k
Gu
nde
n
n
Me
u Am
e ds
R
N
16
Chukchi Plain
1
A
E
East Siberian Sea
Ridge
k ac rp c me ki of su m pac Limit Limit of permanen t
Tuktoyaktuk
I F E D
Ostrov Vrangelya
i ce
E
it
A RIC
O
NO
R
TH
AM
ra
rt (pa
S
Arctic C ircle
R U S S I A N
St
A SA A L of U
A
95
Ber
A SK )
H
F
G
H
5
138
The world factfiles
139
Sna
ke
k y
OCEAN
PACIFIC
M
o
u
n
rc le
C A
N
D
Great Lakes
Lake Superior
ff
t
OTTAWA
Lake Huron
A
Hudson Bay Lake Winnipeg
A
Reindeer Lake
Lake Athabasca
Great Slave Lake
Great Bear Lake
Ba
D
Greenland
ra
do
r
NUUK
(Denmark)
E
St Pierre & Miquelon (France)
Jan Mayen (to Norway)
Svalbard (to Norway)
Franz Josef Land (to Russia)
n tia en ns u r tai La oun M Gulf of St.Lawrence
Baffin Bay
OCEAN
North Pole
ARCTIC
Queen Elizabeth Islands
C
UNITED STATES
ALASKA
Yuk o n
c
4
3
2
A S I A
B
n z ie M acke
1
o
an d St
R
ce
Ci ic
Isl en
ct Ar
in b wr
A
La .L a
4
3
2
1
140
North & Central America
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
a
i
8
rad
Colo
A
B
A
a pp
c la
hi
a
PORT-AU-PRINCE
BELMOPAN
PANAMA CITY
PANAMA
C
SMALLEST COUNTRY: St. Kitts & Nevis 101 sq miles (261 sq km)
LARGEST COUNTRY: Canada 3,855,171 sq miles (9,984,670 sq km)
COUNTRY WITH HIGHEST POPULATION DENSITY: Barbados 1542 people per sq mile (595 people per sq km)
SAN JOSÉ
COSTA RICA
NICARAGUA
TEGUCIGALPA
MANAGUA
0
D
0
1000 km
or Equat
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
E
1000 miles
A M E R I C A
S O U T H
es
Netherlands Antilles (Neth.)
KINGSTON Montserrat (UK) Martinique (France) ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES GRENADA Aruba (Neth.)
ST KITTS & NEVIS ANTIGUA & BARBUDA Guadeloupe (France) DOMINICA ST LUCIA BARBADOS
Virgin Islands (US) British Virgin Islands (UK) Anguilla (UK)
Sargasso Sea
Bermuda (UK)
OCEAN
ATLANTIC
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Turks & Caicos Islands (UK) Mexico DOMINICAN NASSAU REPUBLIC HAVANA BAHAMAS Puerto C U Rico (US) BA Cayman SANTO HAITI DOMINGO Islands (UK)
EL SALVADOR
SAN SALVADOR
LARGEST CITY WITH POPULATION: Mexico City, Mexico 22.9 million
TOTAL POPULATION: 536.1 million
TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES: 23
TOTAL AREA: 8,116,571 sq miles (21,021,940 sq km)
O
a
Gulf of
ns
Lake Ontario
ns ai
nt
JAMAICA GUATEMALA BELIZE GUATEMALA CITY HONDURAS
C
POLITICAL FACTFILE
I
ator
X
Equ
M Ed e n t a l
cc re O MEXICO CITY
e
7
ad Sierra M nd
Clipperton Island (French Polynesia)
Tr opi co fC anc er
rka
O F A M E RAI C A
ra Rio G
6
5
Lake Michigan Lake Erie ou ri io Oh
i pp
i ssi M iss
M n
n ou
i
s s
d
ss
n
Mi
A
o
8
7
6
5
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
141
QUITO
Gu
ap
o
LIMA
U
are
us
m
na
B
a
a
SUCRE
C
M
a
s
i a
R
ir de
z n
A
n
PARAGUAY
o
Z
Am
n a zo
I
BRASÍLIA
L
Sã
o Fr a n c
is
E
co
Equator
Tropic of Capricorn
Represa de Sobradinho
OCEAN
ATLANTIC
D
GEORGETOWN PARAMARIBO CAYENNE French Guiana (France)
E
H i g h l a n d s
BOLIVIA
LA PAZ
os
ia
Orino
R io N e gro
u
B
G
Di
A
e M a d re d
Pur
Ju ru á
mayo
Lake Titicaca
P u tu
tá
avi
Meta
co
CARACAS
VENEZUE LA
BOGOTÁ
C a q ue
M arañón
N
e
Tropic of Capricorn
a
a
CO LO M BI A
ECUADOR
Equator
th P a m u s of nama
B
Caribbean Sea
n
d
4
3
2
1
A
uc
Ca
P
R i
a
Is
A
E
uai
al e n a
A ag
gd
AN Ar
GUY M
ins
M
I NA
gu
B en
SUR
Xin
Tocant
4
3
2
1
142
South America
SOUTH AMERICA
s
8
7
6
A
B
A Cape Horn
Tierra del Fuego
Strait of Magellan
LARGEST CITY WITH POPULATION: São Paulo, Brazil 21 million
TOTAL POPULATION: 388.9 million
ASUNCIÓN P aran ay gu
a
C
SMALLEST COUNTRY: Suriname 63,039 sq miles (163,270 sq km)
LARGEST COUNTRY: Brazil 3,286,470 sq miles (8,511,965 sq km)
COUNTRY WITH HIGHEST POPULATION DENSITY: Ecuador 127 people per sq mile (49 people per sq km)
Falkland Islands (UK)
D
0 0
500 km
E
500 miles
South Georgia (UK)
OCEAN
ATLANTIC
Lagoa dos Patos
MONTEVIDEO
URUGUAY
á
Para n
BUENOS AIRES
C olo rad o Río Neg ro
TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES: 12
TOTAL AREA: 6,731,428 sq miles (17,434,410 sq km)
POLITICAL FACTFILE
Isla de Chiloé
OCEAN
PACIFIC
SANTIAGO
H
C
Islas Juan Fernandez (Chile)
L I Patagoni a
5
N
Isla San Félix (Chile)
R
A
ru U
E
A n d e s G
E
N I
T
Isla San Ambrosio (Chile)
8
7
6
5
SOUTH AMERICA
143
WESTERN SAHARA
DAKAR
BISSAU
MALABO
LOMÉ
SÃO TOMÉ
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
A
a
YAOUNDÉ
GABON
E G Y P T
S U D A N
KHARTOUM
U el e
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
NDJAMENA
C H A D
BANGUI
LIBREVILLE
r
Y
Tibesti
B
CAIRO
e
KAMPALA
Peninsula
DJIBOUTI
Lake Turkana Lake Victoria
Sh e
bel
i
ETHIOPIA
Equator
MOGADISHU
SOMALIA
(not internationally recognized)
SOMALILAND
DJIBOUTI
ASMARA
ERITREA
ADDIS ABABA
A
Tropic of Cancer
I
E
Arabian
S
Sy r i a n Deser t
A
UGANDA KENYA
i le
Equator
GHANA
ACCRA
r
I
Lib ya n De s e rt
S e a
Black Sea
eN
LIBERIA
BENIN TOG O PORTO-NOVO
ABUJA
NIGERIA N ig e
E
hi t
YAMOUSSOUKRO
(IVORY COAST)
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
P
W
MONROVIA
NIAMEY
O
D
l
SIERRA LEONE
r
INA RK OUAGADOUGOU
Nige
a
L
N I G E R
h
R
M e d i t e r r TUNIS a n TUNISIA e a n TRIPOLI
U
C
i eN
FREETOWN
a
M A L I
S
A L G E R I A
BAMAKO
GUINEA- GUINEA BISSAU CONAKRY
BANJUL
GAMBIA
SENEGAL
S e n e ga l
NOUAKCHOTT
MAURITANIA
Tropic of Cancer
(disputed)
ALGIERS Ceuta (Spain) Melilla (Spain)
E
s RABAT in ta MOR OCCO o u n M s la At
LAÂYOUNE
Islas Canarias (Spain)
Madeira (Portugal)
OCEAN
A TL A N T I C
B
Blu
4
3
2
1
A
a S e
BU
R
e d
ON
f
RO
ul
ME
G
CA
an
C o ng o
Pe
i rs
GO
N i le
4
3
2
1
144 AFRICA
Africa
8
7
6
5
OC E A N
A
B
LARGEST CITY WITH POPULATION: Cairo, Egypt 14.8 million
TOTAL POPULATION: 1008.4 million
TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES: 53
TOTAL AREA: 11,437,866 sq miles (29,624,290 sq km)
ZIMBABWE
O r a n g e R ive r
C
SMALLEST COUNTRY: Seychelles 176 sq miles (455 sq km)
LARGEST COUNTRY: Sudan 967,493 sq miles (2,505,810 sq km)
COUNTRY WITH HIGHEST POPULATION DENSITY: Mauritius 1794 people per sq mile (693 people per sq km)
SOUTH AFR IC A
0 0
D
MASERU
Tropic of Capricorn
MADAGASCAR
1000 km
O C E A N
E
1000 miles
I N D I A N
SWAZILAND
LESOTHO
MBABANE
Mayotte (France)
MORONI
COMOROS
ANTANANARIVO
TSHWANE/PRETORIA MAPUTO
BOTSWANA Kalahari Desert
LILONGWE
MALAWI
Z am be zi HARARE
LUSAKA
BLOEMFONTEIN
CAPE TOWN Cape of Good Hope
NAIROBI
Lake Nyasa
Tanganyika
Z A M B I A
GABORONE
NAMIBIA
RWANDA KIGALI BURUNDI
BUJUMBURA
DEM. REP. TA N ZA N I A Lake CONGO DODOMA
ANGOLA
KINSHASA
WINDHOEK
LUANDA
Cabinda (part of Angola)
A T L AN T I C
St Helena (UK)
POLITICAL FACTFILE
Tropic of Capricorn
Ascension I. (St Helena)
O
N
C BRAZZAVILLE
M
ZA
MO
E
U
IQ
B
SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE
8
7
6
5
AFRICA
145
146
EUROPE
Europe A
B
C
D
POLITICAL FACTFILE 1
REYKJAVÍK
TOTAL AREA: 3,739,678 sq miles (9,685,756 sq km )
ICELAND
Ar cti cC
ircl e
TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES: 46
Norwegian Faeroe Islands (Denmark)
Orkney Islands
British Isles
W
DENMARK
UNITED KINGDOM
DUBLIN
R
OSLO
North Sea
IRELAND
SMALLEST COUNTRY: Vatican City, Italy 0.17 sq miles (0.44 sq km)
O
N
E
Outer Hebrides
LARGEST COUNTRY: European Russia 1,527,341 sq miles (3,955,818 sq km)
3
W
Shetland Islands
COUNTRY WITH HIGHEST POPULATION DENSITY: Monaco 42,667 people per sq mile (16,410 people per sq km)
S
2
Sea
A
LARGEST CITY WITH POPULATION: Moscow, European Russia 13.5 million
Y
TOTAL POPULATION: 717.8 million
COPENHAGEN
AMSTERDAM El be NETH. THE BERLIN HAGUE BELGIUM
LONDON Channel Is. (UK)
GE RMA N Y
BRUSSELS
LUXEMBOURG PRAGUE LUXEMBOURG L oi r e e CZECH REPUBLIC FRANCE LIECH. BRATISLAVA BERN VIENNA
in
PARIS
ATLANTIC MADRID
us
MONACO
ANDORRA
I C
A
Y
L
R
ROME
s
Sardinia
M e d i t e
Melilla (Spain)
F
nd
BOSNIA & HERZ.
A
A
sla B ale ar ic I
SARAJEVO
SAN MARINO Corsica VATICAN CITY
G ua d a l q u i v i r
Ceuta (Spain)
CROATIA
I T
SPAIN Gibraltar (UK)
LJUBLJANA ZAGREB
ne
Canary Islands (Spain)
Tag
LISBON
SLOVENIA
on
5
PORTUGAL
ro
Madeira (Portugal)
r
Eb
OCEAN
AUSTRIA
SWITZERLAND
Ga
4
Rh
Bay of Biscay
r
r
a
Sicily
n e a n
VALLETTA
MALTA A
B
C
D
EUROPE E
F
G
147
H
l U r a
F
D
E
I N L A N D
N
s i n n t a M o u
N
or
th e
c S ea
lt i
vin
a
Lake Onega
HELSINKI
R
F
LATVIA RIGA
E
D
S
S
E
R
I
A
A
MOSCOW U
2
N
ra
T
I
O
N
l
Vo
lga
LITHUANIA VILNIUS KALININGRAD MINSK (Russ.Fed.)
U
Ir ty sh
Lake Ladoga
STOCKHOLM TALLINN ESTONIA
Ba
rn D
1 Ob'
3
BELARUS
Aral Sea
WARSAW Don
POLAND
KIEV per
UKRAINE Dn
C
CHIfiINÂU
as
ea
PRISTINA SOFIA KOS. (disp.) SKOPJE
S
Black Sea
I
BELGRADE BUCHAREST e MONTENEGRO nub PODGORICA Da
an
Cau cas us
SERBIA
BULGARIA
MACED. TIRANA
S
TURKEY
A
ALBANIA
G R EECE
0 0
ATHENS
S e a
Crete
E
4
pi
ROMANIA
A
MOLDOVA
ie
SLOVAKIA BUDAPEST
HUNGARY
1000 km
5 1000 miles
Cyprus
F
G
H
ASIA
148
Asia A
B
C
D
A R C T I C
O C E A N
Franz Josef Land
Severnaya Zemlya
1
Laptev Sea Kara Sea
Le
na
R U S S I A N
F E D E R A T I O N b
Black Sea
GEORGIA
ARMENIA
NICOSIA BEIRUT
er
LEBANON
JERUSALEM
ISRAEL
3
YEREVAN
BAKU
I R AN
KABUL ISLAMABAD
Sea
QATAR PAKISTAN DOHA ABU DHABI SA U D I U.A.E. A R A B IA MUSCAT
NEW DELHI
s
RIYADH
OM AN
SANA
(Yemen)
ato
TAJIKISTAN
AFGHANISTAN
I ndu
Red
KUWAIT MANAMA
Socotra
Equ
KYRGYZSTAN
TASHKENT DUSHANBE
BAHRAIN
Y EMEN
4
BISHKEK
AflGABAT
BAGHDAD
IRAQ
r
MONGOLIA
UZBEKISTAN
TURKMENISTAN
DAMASCUS AMMAN TEHRÁN
JORDAN
KUWAIT
A F R I C A
ULAN BATOR
AZERBAIJAN
SYRIA
C
H
I
N
A ze
CYPRUS nc
Lake Baikal
KAZAKHSTAN
TBILISI
gt
ic op Tr
TU R K E Y Ca
h
ASTANA
ANKARA
of
ys
s ey
I rt
i Ye n
2
O
E U R O P E
Ga
Arabian Sea
DHAKA
VIETNAM MYANMAR HANOI (BURMA) LAOS
NAY PYI TAW
VIENTIANE
Bay of THAILAND BANGKOK Bengal CAMBODIA Andaman & PHNOM Nicobar Islands
Laccadive Islands (India)
MALDIVES
n
n g e s BANGLADESH
I N D I A
MALE’
Ya
NEPAL THIMPHU BHUTAN
KATHMANDU
PENH
(India) COLOMBO
SRI LANKA
M ALA
KUALA LUMPUR PUTRAJAYA
SINGAPORE
5
I I N D I A N A
B
O C E A N C
N
JAKARTA
D
ASIA E
F
G
149
H
POLITICAL FACTFILE TOTAL AREA: 17,006,354 sq miles (44,046,472 sq km)
1
TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES: 49 TOTAL POPULATION: 4148.4 million
Sea of Okhotsk
LARGEST CITY WITH POPULATION: Tokyo, Japan 33.8 million Kurile Islands
Ca nc
JA PA N TOKYO
PYONGYANG
i op Tr
SEOUL BEIJING
SOUTH KOREA
co
2
LARGEST COUNTRY: Asiatic Russia 5,065,394 sq miles (13,119,382 sq km)
er
NORTH KOREA
COUNTRY WITH HIGHEST POPULATION DENSITY: Singapore 20,072 people per sq mile (7765 people per sq km)
f
SMALLEST COUNTRY: Maldives 116 sq miles (300 sq km)
3
Ryukyu Islands TAIPEI
P ACIF IC O CEAN
TAIWAN
4
MANILA
P H I L I P P I N ES
Equ
ato
r
0 0
1000 km 1000 miles
BRUNEI BANDAR Y S I A
SERI BEGAWAN
AUS T R AL AS I A D
O
N
E DILI
E
S
I
A
&
5
O C E ANI A
EAST TIMOR F
G
H
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
150
Australasia & Oceania A
B
C
D
Wake Island (to US)
Northern Mariana Islands
1
(US)
Philippine
M
i
HAGÅTÑA Guam
Sea
c
r
MELEKEOK
Caro
Babeldaob
Islan
ds
l
a
NAURU n
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
A
S
I
e
NAURU
s
BAIRIKI
KIRIBATI
i
a SOLOMON ISLANDS
A PORT MORESBY
a
e
M
i
PALAU
tor
PALIKIR
line
MI CRO NE S I A
2
Equa
MARSHALL ISLANDS n MAJURO e s
o
(US)
TUVALU FONGAFALE
HONIARA
3
VANUATU Coral Sea Islands
Ashmore & Cartier Islands
(Australia)
t
NOUMÉA
D iv id in
ar
lin
g
op Tr
D
Lake Torrens
ange g R
AUSTRALIA Lake Eyre North
ico apr fC ic o
FIJI
re
a
INDIAN OCEAN
SUVA
(France)
G
(Australia)
4
PORT VILA New Caledonia
Norfolk Island (Australia)
Lord Howe Island (Australia)
rn
CANBERRA M urray
Tasman Sea
5
NEW ZEALAND WELLINGTON
Tasmania
A
B
C
D
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA E
F
H
POLITICAL FACTFILE
Johnston Atoll
TOTAL AREA: 3,244,632 sq miles (8,403,608 sq km)
(US)
International Dateline
G
COUNTRY WITH HIGHEST POPULATION DENSITY: Nauru 1210 people per sq mile (467 people per sq km)
TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRIES: 14
Baker & Howland Islands
151
TOTAL POPULATION: 34.5 million
LARGEST COUNTRY: Australia 2,967,893 sq miles (7,686,850 sq km)
LARGEST CITY WITH POPULATION: Sydney, Australia 4.4 million
SMALLEST COUNTRY: Nauru 8.1 sq miles (21 sq km)
1
2
a
Jarvis Island
(US)
(US)
P A C I F I C
i
KIRIBATI Phoenix Islands
Equa
O C E A N
KIRIBATI
tor
Tokelau
s
(NZ)
Wallis & American Cook Islands Futuna (NZ) SAMOA Samoa (Fr.)
3
ÁPIA PAGO PAGO
e
MATÁ’UTU
Marquesas Islands
(US)
So
TONGA (NZ)
NUKU‘ ALOFA
AVARUA
y
Ile
l
(New Zealand)
ty
PAPEETE Isl
an
ds
French Polynesia
Kermadec Islands
International Dateline
cie
n
Niue
sA u
(France)
str
al
Pitcairn Islands
es
4
(UK)
o
Tro
P 0 0
pic o
1000 miles
(New Zealand)
F
G
orn
1000 km
Chatham Islands
E
f Ca pric
H
5
152
Key to factfile maps
FOREWORD This factfile is intended as a guide to a world that is continually changing as political fashions and personalities come and go. Nevertheless, all the material in these factfiles has been researched from the most up-to-date and authoritative sources to give an incisive portrait of the geographical, social, and economic characteristics that make each country unique.
KEY TO MAP SYMBOLS ELEVATION
DRAINAGE FEATURES River
4000m/13,124ft 3000m/9843ft
Seasonal river
2000m/6562ft
Canal
1000m/3281ft
Lake
500m/1640ft
Seasonal lake
200m/656ft 0 Below sea level
BORDERS Full international
SYMBOLS Capital city Major town International airport Mountain
Disputed de facto Territorial claim
The asterisk in the Factfile denotes the country's official language(s)
Cease-fire line
Date of formation denotes the date of political origin or independence; the second date (if any) identifies when its current borders were established
State/Province
The area figure denotes total land area
ASIA
Afghanistan
153
About 75% of this landlocked Asian country is inaccessible. The Islamist Taliban, ousted in 2001, continue to fight a guerrilla war against Afghan and NATO-led forces. GEOGRAPHY Predominantly mountainous. Highest range is the Hindu Kush. Mountains are bordered by fertile plains. Desert plateau in the south.
THE ECONOMY Mainly agricultural, severely disrupted by war. Illicit opium trade is big cash earner. Natural gas pipeline planned from the Caspian Sea to Pakistan.
CLIMATE Harsh continental. Hot, dry summers. Cold winters with heavy snow, especially in the Hindu Kush.
INSIGHT: The UN estimates that it could take 100 years to remove the 10 million landmines laid since 1979
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Islamic State
of Afghanistan DATE OF FORMATION: 1919 CAPITAL: Kabul POPULATION: 28.1 million TOTAL AREA: 250,000 sq. miles
(647,500 sq. km)
TAJIKISTAN CHINA
UZBEK. TURKMENISTAN
Feyzábád sh Kondoz Ku Baghlán d u in
Mazár-e Sharíf Meymaneh
H
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Mujahideen factions fought first against Soviet invaders (from 1979), and then against each other (after 1989), before the Taliban won control in 1996. Under their strict Islamist regime women were denied all rights and ethnic tensions were exacerbated. The US assisted anti-Taliban forces in 2001 as part of its “war on terrorism.” A new democratic government struggles to maintain control as insurgency continues.
Cháríkár Herát
KABUL
Jalálábád Khyber Pass
Ghazní
PAKISTAN
Gereshk
Kandahár
IRAN
0 0
100 km 100 miles
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft
DENSITY: 112 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Pashtu*, Dari*, Tajik, other RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 84%,
Shi’a Muslim 15%, other 1% ETHNIC MIX: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Hazara 19%, Uzbek, Turkmen, other 18% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Afghani = 100 puls
154
EUROPE
Albania Lying at the southeastern end of the Adriatic Sea, Albania was the last east European country to liberalize its economy. The regional strife of the 1990s has left a difficult legacy.
GEOGRAPHY Narrow coastal plain. Interior is mostly hills and mountains. Forest and scrub cover over 40% of the land.
THE ECONOMY Oil and natural gas reserves have potential to offset rudimentary infrastructure and lack of foreign investment. Organized crime problem.
CLIMATE Mediterranean coastal climate, with warm summers and cool winters. Mountains receive heavy rains or snows in winter.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Albania DATE OF FORMATION: 1912 CAPITAL: Tirana POPULATION: 3.16 million TOTAL AREA: 11,100 sq. miles
(28,748 sq. km) DENSITY: 298 people per sq. mile
KOSOVO
Lake Scutari
Shkodër
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The pace of economic reform remains a major issue. EU membership, applied for in 2009, is a distant prospect. Mosques and churches have reopened in what was once the world’s only officially atheist state. The Greek minority in the south suffers much discrimination. INSIGHT: The Albanians’ name for their country, Shqipërisë, means “Land of the Eagles”
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
MONTENEGRO
Kukës
Adriatic Sea
MACEDONIA
TIRANA
Durrës
Elbasan Lushnjë Fier Vlorë
Lake Ohrid Lake Prespa
Berat Korçë
Delvinë Ionian Sea
0 0
GREECE
50 km 50 miles
LANGUAGES: Albanian*, Greek RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 70%,
Orthodox Christian 20%, Roman Catholic 10% ETHNIC MIX: Albanian 93%, Greek 5%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Lek = 100 qindarka (qintars)
AFRICA
155
Algeria Africa’s second-largest country, Algeria won independence from France in 1962. Today, national reconciliation is key to recovery from a conflict launched by Islamic extremists in 1992. GEOGRAPHY 85% of the country lies within the Sahara Desert. Fertile coastal region with plains and hills rises from the southeast to the Atlas Mountains. CLIMATE Coastal areas are warm and temperate, with most rainfall during the mild winters. The south is very hot, with negligible rainfall.
THE ECONOMY Oil and natural gas exports. Political turmoil has led to exodus of skilled foreign labor. Limited agriculture. INSIGHT: The world’s highest dunes are located in the deserts of east central Algeria Mediterranean Sea
Tlemcen
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Algerians are predominantly Arab, under 30 years of age, and urban. Most indigenous Berbers consider the mountainous Kabylia region in the northeast to be their homeland. They have been granted greater ethnic rights in recent years. The Sahara sustains just 500,000 people, mainly oil workers and Tuareg nomads with goat and camel herds, who move between the irrigated oases.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: People’s Democratic
Republic of Algeria DATE OF FORMATION: 1962 CAPITAL: Algiers POPULATION: 34.9 million TOTAL AREA: 919,590 sq. miles
(2,381,740 sq. km)
Béjaïa Annaba Constantine Sétif Batna Tiaret t s. Biskra
ALGIERS
Oran
MOROCCO
TUNISIA
Atlas M
Ghardaïa Béchar
I-n-Salah MAUR.
MALI
Tas sil i-
LIBYA
nA
jje r
A h a g g a r Tamanrasset S a h a r a
NI GER
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0 0
200 km 200 miles
DENSITY: 38 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Arabic*, Tamazight, French RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 99%,
Christian and Jewish 1% ETHNIC MIX: Arab 75%, Berber 24%, European and Jewish 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Algerian dinar = 100 centimes
156
EUROPE
Andorra A tiny landlocked principality, Andorra lies high in the eastern Pyrenees between France and Spain. It held its first full elections in 1993. Tourism is the main source of income.
GEOGRAPHY High mountains, with six deep, glaciated valleys that drain into the Valira River as it flows into Spain. CLIMATE Cool, wet springs followed by dry, warm summers. Mountain snows linger until March.
THE ECONOMY Tourism and duty-free sales dominate the economy. Banking secrecy laws and low consumer taxes promote investment and commerce. France and Spain effectively decide economic policy. Dependence on imported food and raw materials. 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Immigration is strictly monitored and restricted by quota to French and Spanish nationals seeking employment in Andorra. Low taxes attract wealthy expatriates. A referendum in 1993 ended 715 years of semifeudal status, but Andorran society remains conservative.
F R A N C E
P
y
r
e
n
e
e
s
Soldeu
Arinsal Canillo
Ordino
Encamp
Port d'Envalira
V al i r a
Escaldes
ANDORRA LA VELLA
Sant Julià de Lòria
INSIGHT: Andorra’s coprincipality status dates from the 13th century. The “princes” are the president of France and the bishop of Urgel in Spain.
S P A I N
0 0
5 km 5 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Spanish, Catalan*, French,
OFFICIAL NAME: Principality of Andorra DATE OF FORMATION: 1278 CAPITAL: Andorra la Vella POPULATION: 82,200 TOTAL AREA: 181 sq. miles
Portuguese
(468 sq. km) DENSITY: 457 people per sq. mile
RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 94%,
other 6% ETHNIC MIX: Spanish 46%, Andorran 28%,
other 18%, French 8% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
AFRICA
157
Angola Located in southwest Africa, Angola suffered a civil war following independence from Portugal in 1975, until a 2002 peace deal. Hundreds of thousands of people died.
CLIMATE Varies from temperate to tropical. Rainfall decreases north to south. Coast is cooler and dry.
CONGO CABINDA (part of Angola)
o ng
M’Banza Congo
DEM. REP.CONGO
Uíge Lucapa
LUANDA Malanje ATLANTIC OCEAN
Saurimo
Cu a
a nz
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Civil war pitched the ruling Kimbundu-dominated MPLA against UNITA, representing the Ovimbundu. Multiparty elections in 1991–1992, after the MPLA had abandoned Marxism, failed to stall the war for long. Power-sharing from 2002 ended when the MPLA won the 2008 election; a presidential poll has yet to be held.
THE ECONOMY Potentially one of Africa’s richest countries, but long civil war hampered economic development. Oil and diamonds are exported.
Co
GEOGRAPHY Most of the land is hilly and grasscovered. Desert in the south. Mountains in the center and north.
Lobito Benguela
Huambo
Lubango
Luena
m Za
i be z
Planalto do Bié
Menongue
ZAMBIA
Namibe Cunene
NAMIBIA BOTSWANA
INSIGHT: Angola has the greatest number of amputees (caused by landmines) in the world
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Angola DATE OF FORMATION: 1975 CAPITAL: Luanda POPULATION: 18.5 million TOTAL AREA: 481,351 sq. miles
(1,246,700 sq. km) DENSITY: 38 people per sq. mile
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0 0
200 km 200 miles
LANGUAGES: Portuguese*, Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 50%, other 30%, Protestant 20% ETHNIC MIX: Ovimbundu 37%, other 25%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Readjusted kwanza = 100 lwei
158
ANTARCTICA
Antarctica
The circumpolar continent of Antarctica is almost entirely covered by ice, some up to 1.2 miles (2 km) thick. It also contains 90% of the Earth’s freshwater reserves. GEOGRAPHY The bulk of Antarctica’s ice is contained in the Greater Antarctic Ice Sheet – a huge dome that rises steeply from the coast and flattens to a plateau in the interior. CLIMATE Powerful winds create a storm belt around the continent, which brings cloud, fog, and blizzards. Winter temperatures can fall to –112°F (–80°C).
PEOPLE & SOCIETY No indigenous population. Scientists and logistical staff work at the 40 permanent, and as many as 100 temporary, research stations. A few Chilean settler families live on King George Island. Tourism is mostly by cruise ship to the Antarctic Peninsula. Annual tourist numbers have reached nearly 50,000. 0
South Orkney Is. South Shetland Is. King George I.
Ross Sea
SOUTHERN OCEAN
t s. a ri to ic n d V La
(14,000,000 sq. km)
Ross Ice Shelf
M
DATE OF FORMATION: 1961 TOTAL AREA: 5,405,000 sq. miles
nd
La
A munds e n Se a
ic
FACTFILE
East South A n t a r c t i c a Pole Tr an sa We s t nt A nt ar c t ic a
Ellsworth Land
ct
The Antarctic Treaty of 1959 holds all territorial claims in abeyance in the interest of international cooperation
Ende r by Land
R o nne Ice She lf
ar
French claim New Zealand claim
Antarctic Peninsula
SOUTHERN OCEAN
cl e
d
Balleny Is.
s
Australian claim
Weddell Sea
cC ir
1000 miles
ke
Argentinian claim Brazilian zone of interest British claim Norwegian undefined limit
au M n nd a
rc ti
ue L e
Chilean claim
A n ta
Q
Territorial Claims:
1000 km
0
W
il
South Magnetic Pole
SOUTHERN OCEAN Ice Cap Permanent Ice
INSIGHT: If the ice sheets of Antarctica were to melt, the world’s oceans would rise by as much as 200–210 ft (60–65 m)
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
159
Antigua & Barbuda A former colony of Spain, France, and the UK, Antigua and Barbuda lies at the outer edge of the Leeward Islands group in the Caribbean, and includes the uninhabited islet of Redonda.
(442 sq. km) DENSITY: 487 people per sq. mile
Isla V.C. Bird Intl. Airport
ST. JOHN’S
nd s
Barbuda
nds
OFFICIAL NAME: Antigua and Barbuda DATE OF FORMATION: 1981 CAPITAL: St. John’s POPULATION: 82,800 TOTAL AREA: 170 sq. miles
Codrington Codrington Lagoon
200m/656ft Sea Level
hla
FACTFILE
5 miles
ig
INSIGHT: In 1865, Redonda was “claimed” by an eccentric Englishman as a kingdom for his son
0
ATLANTIC OCEAN
5 km
eH
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Population almost entirely of African origin, with small communities of Europeans and South Asians. Women’s status has risen as a result of greater access to education. Wealth disparities are small. The Bird family dominated politics from 1960, but lost power to the United Progressive Party (UPP) from 2004.
0
Th
CLIMATE Tropical, moderated by trade winds and sea breezes. Humidity and rainfall are low for the region.
THE ECONOMY Tourism is the main source of revenue and the biggest provider of jobs. Financial services and Internet gambling are expanding. High debt.
Palmetto Point
30
Long I.
mi l es
Spanish Point
(50 k
Guiana I.
m) a
Antigua
pa rt
Freetown Green I.
Bolans
Falmouth
a as del sa ou ge pe
GEOGRAPHY Mainly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher volcanic areas. Antigua’s coast is indented with bays and harbors.
u G P
Caribbean Sea
LANGUAGES: English*, English patois RELIGIONS: Anglican 45%,
other Protestant 42%, Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, Rastafarian 1% ETHNIC MIX: Black African 95%, other 5% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: E. Caribbean $ = 100 cents
160
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina Argentina occupies most of southern South America. After 30 years of intermittent military rule, democracy returned in 1983. Economy has slowed since its recovery from 2001 crash. THE ECONOMY Agricultural exports restored growth from 2003, but bad drought in 2008 coincided with global downturn. PARAGUAY
BOLIV IA
c ha
o
GEOGRAPHY The Andes form a natural border with Chile in the west. East are the heavily wooded plains (Gran Chaco) and treeless but fertile Pampas plains. Bleak and arid Patagonia in the south.
Salta
C an Gr
San Juan
BRAZIL
d e
Neuquén N e g r
s
Pa ta g on ia
s
Mendoza
Santa Rosa
BUENOS AIRES
o
La Plata Mar del Plata Bahía Blanca Bahía Blanca
Viedma
AT L AN T IC O C E AN
Golfo San Jorge
Falkland Islands (to UK)
Bahía Grande
Río Gallegos
INSIGHT: The Tango originated in the poorer quarters of Buenos Aires at the end of the 19th century
Posadas Corrientes
pa
n
PEOPLE & SOCIETY People are largely of European descent; over one-third are of Italian origin. Indigenous peoples are now in a minority, living mainly in Andean regions or in the Gran Chaco. The middle classes were worst hit by the economic meltdown of 2001–2002.
l a do
Santa Fe Paraná URUGUAY Córdoba Rosario
A
CHILE
Sa
San Miguel de Tucumán
Pam
CLIMATE The Andes are semiarid in the north and snowy in the south. Pampas have a mild climate with summer rains.
Strait of Magellan
0 0
Tierra del Fuego
400 km 400 miles
4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Italian, Amerindian
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Argentina DATE OF FORMATION: 1816 CAPITAL: Buenos Aires POPULATION: 40.3 million TOTAL AREA: 1,068,296 sq. miles
languages
(2,766,890 sq. km) DENSITY: 38 people per sq. mile
RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 90%,
other 6%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2% ETHNIC MIX: Indo-European 83%, Mestizo
14%, Jewish 2%, Amerindian 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Argentine peso = 100 centavos
ASIA
Armenia
161
The smallest of the former USSR’s republics, Armenia lies landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. After 1988, a confrontation with Azerbaijan dominated national life. GEOGRAPHY Rugged and mountainous, with expanses of semidesert and a large lake in the east: Sevana Lich. CLIMATE Continental climate, with little rainfall in the lowlands. The winters are often bitterly cold.
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft
GEORGIA
Alaverdi
Sevan
Sevana Lich
Ararat
a
su
s
uc
YEREVAN ra
a r C
TURKEY
Armavir
A ZERBAI JAN
se
Hrazdan Ashtarak Vagharshapat
Les
Vanadzor Gyumri
A
s
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Christianity is the dominant religion, but minority groups are well integrated. War with Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno Karabakh forced 350,000 Armenians living in Azerbaijan to return home, many to live in poverty. There are close and important ties to the seven-millionstrong Armenian diaspora.
THE ECONOMY Overseas remittances and agriculture each account for a sixth of GDP. Main products are wine, tobacco, potatoes, and fruit. Welldeveloped machine-building and manufacturing – includes textiles and bottling of mineral water.
AZERBAIJAN
INSIGHT: In the 4th century, Armenia became the first country to adopt Christianity as its state religion
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Armenia DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Yerevan POPULATION: 3.08 million TOTAL AREA: 11,506 sq. miles
(29,800 sq. km) DENSITY: 268 people per sq. mile
Kapan
A r as
0 0
50 km
IRAN
50 miles
LANGUAGES: Armenian*, Azeri, Russian RELIGIONS: Armenian Apostolic Church
(Orthodox) 88%, Armenian Catholic Church 6%, other 6% ETHNIC MIX: Armenian 98%, Yezidi 1%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Dram = 100 luma
162
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
Australia An island continent in its own right, Australia is the world’s sixth-largest country. European settlement began over 200 years ago. Most Australians now live in cities along the coast.
GEOGRAPHY Located between the Indian and Pacific oceans, Australia has a variety of landscapes, including tropical rainforests, the arid plateaus, ridges, and vast deserts of the “red center,” the lowlands and river systems draining into Lake Eyre, rolling tracts of pastoral land, and magnificent beaches around much of the coastline. In the far east are the mountains of the Great Dividing Range. Famous natural features include Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Great Barrier Reef. CLIMATE The west and south are semi-arid with hot summers. The arid interior can reach 120°F (50°C) in the central desert areas. The north is hot throughout the year, and humid during the summer monsoon. East, southeast, and southwest coastal areas are temperate.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Commonwealth of
Australia DATE OF FORMATION: 1901 CAPITAL: Canberra POPULATION: 21.3 million TOTAL AREA: 2,967,893 sq. miles
(7,686,850 sq. km)
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The first settlers arrived in Australia at least 100,000 years ago. Today, the Aborigines make up around 2% of the population. European colonization began in 1788, and was dominated by British and Irish immigrants, some of whom were convicts. White-only immigration drives brought many Europeans to Australia, but since the 1960s multi-culturalism has been encouraged and most new settlers are Asian; Cantonese has overtaken Italian as the second most widely spoken language. Wealth disparities are small, but Aborigines, the exception in an otherwise integrated society, are marginalized: their average life expectancy is around 11 years less than other Australians. The new Labor government from 2007 has overturned right-wing policies on illegal immigration and has signed up to limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
DENSITY: 7 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: English*, Cantonese, other RELIGIONS: Various Protestant 38%,
other 36%, Roman Catholic 26% ETHNIC MIX: European 90%, Asian 7%,
Aboriginal 2%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Australian dollar = 100 cents
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
THE ECONOMY Efficient mining and agriculture: particular success in viticulture. Large resource base: coal, iron ore, bauxite, and most other minerals. Protectionism abandoned to open up Australian markets. Concentration on trade with Asia: China’s expanding demand for minerals spurred a return to strong economic growth after the 1997
163
Asian financial crisis. China now rivals Japan as Australia’s major trading partner. Upward trend in Asian visitor arrivals has strengthened tourism. INSIGHT: Sydney has the world’s largest suburban area, a conurbation so vast that the city is twice as large as Beijing and six times the size of Rome
A r af u r a S e a Cape Ca ape pee Y ork Bama B amag ag ga C
Daarw Da rrwi rw wiin w win
rr
ie
r
ef
Ma M aacka ccka kay Roc R o ockh ckh kh hamp ha aam m mpton
in
g
QUEENSL A N D
Bund Bun Bu B un u unda nda nd daaberg b
R
Ulur Uluru U lluru uru rru u (A (Aye (Ayer (A (Ay Ayer Ay y e s Roc R ck) k) Simps Simp Sim Si S i m p on im n (867 (8 (86 ((867m 867m 8 67m 6 67 7m ) 7m D ees t Deser Des De
a
F rraas a ssee r I.
n
g
e
Ra
Ra
di
vi
Di
at
re
G
g lin e Dar ng Ra
Fl in d
ng
er s
Great Victoria Desert
n ge
Gympie Brrri B rissb sbane Toowo owo ow wo w oom omba omb o mb Lak La L aake ke Eyre Eyrre re Goo l d Coast G IIpswi Ip p pswi psw wiicch w h SOUT H SSu urfers es ng Pa P a ara ar ra raad dise g n rli Graf Graft Gr G raft rraf ra aaft fftto on n AUSTR A L IA Da n Kalgo Ka algo alg a l orlie lgo rlie e r Plai o Co C o off of f ffs ff fs b r NEW SOUT H Por Port PPo ort o rrtt Augu Augus Aug ugu u gustaa gu lla Haarrrb Ha bour Brok Broke B roke rok rro o okk n Hi oke Hiliill Nu New Ne N eew wca wc w ca c st stle Whya W hyal hy llaa Port PPo Por ort or o rtt PPir irie rie WA L ES Syd Sydn SSydne ydne ydn yyd dne neey EEliza liza izzzaabe iza beth bet b eeth etth th Wagga Wag W agga agg gga gga ga Port Li Lin inc nco nc co oln n Wag Wagga W Wagg agga agg ag a g gga gg ga g a Wo W o ollo oll l llo o n gong Adela Ade Adel A Ad d del dela e i ide id d Espe E Esper spe pe e an er era ance anc nce M ur ra A CA C AN A NBERRA NB Albu bu bur b urry u Allba Alba A Alban lban ban an ny Bendigo go o y AU A U USSST UST STR STRA TRA TRA ALIA LIAN LIAN Kaang a ng nga n gaa rroo ooo II. CA C A APIT AP PPIT ITTA TAL TERRITORY TE G r e a t A u s t r a l i a n VI CTO RI A A u stralian Alps Au Melb Mel Me Melbo M elbo eel elb llbo bo b ourne urn ur u rrne rn ne ne B i g h t Geel Geelo G Gee Ge eelo ee eelo eel eello long ng T a s m a n
Me Meek Meeka eeka eek eka ek tth tharr harr harrra A U S T R A L I A Geral aldt dto dt d ton to on n
S e a
id iv
Lak La Lake L aake ke Carne ke Carn negie ne egie g iie
Re
W E S T E R N
C o r a l
Towns Tow TTown own o owns wns wn w nsssville n villlllee ville vill vvil
D
Mo Mount Moun M o n nt Isa sa a Macdonnell Alic A Al Alice lilice ce Spr Spri Sp pri r ngs ng n gss g Ranges
Desert
Cape Leeu u w iin n
t ea Gr
Great Sandy D e s e r t Lake kee
O C E A N
Ba
N O R T H E R N T E R R I T O R Y
L Lak La Lake Macka cka kaay Ham Disa Disap Di D isap iis ssap app poi point p oi nt oint oin nt ment m R a negr s l e y Gibson e
Per Pe P erth ert er rth th h Fremaan nttle tlle e Rockingh ham am Bunb unb nb bury bu ry
Gulf ulf lf lf off Caar C a r pe n ntar t ria
Cairn C airn irn rn ns ns
O C E A N
Po Po Port ort or rrtt H Hedl He Hedla Hed eedla edl ed dla d llaand nd
P A C I F I C
at
Arr n h e m A Land
K i mb m b e rrll eey y P lla a ate te t au
I N D I A N
Carn Carna C rna narvon na rvo von on
Gre
Timor Seeaa
Bass B Ba Bas ass as sss Stra Sttrai Str Strai t rra rai ait ai
Bur Bu B urn rn nie ni 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Below Sea Level
TAS ASSM SMAN NIIA NIA IA
0 0
400 km
La LLau aau unc un u n ncce ceest eston sto t
Ho H Hob o obar ob b baaarrt bar
400 miles
Sou Sout S out outh uth t h E ast Cape
S e a
164
EUROPE
Austria Bordering eight countries in the heart of Europe, Austria was created in 1918 after the collapse of the Habsburg Empire. Neutral after World War II, it joined the EU in 1995.
CLIMATE Temperate continental climate. The western Alpine regions have colder winters and more rainfall. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Though Austrians speak German, they like to stress their distinctive identity in relation to Germany. Vienna is a major cultural center. Minorities are few; there are some ethnic Croats, Slovenes, and Hungarians, plus refugees from conflict in former Yugoslavia. Though strongly Roman Catholic, Austrian society is less conservative than some southern German Länder. Class divisions remain strong.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Austria DATE OF FORMATION: 1918 CAPITAL: Vienna POPULATION: 8.36 million TOTAL AREA: 32,378 sq. miles
(83,858 sq. km) DENSITY: 262 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Large manufacturing base, despite lack of energy resources. The skilled labor force is key to high-tech exports. Eurozone membership since 2002 has boosted investment. INSIGHT: Many of the world’s great composers were Austrian, including Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, and Strauss 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
CZECH REP.
e VIENNA Linz Da n u Wels Sankt Pölten Steyr Salzburg Wiener Neustadt Bad Ischl
b
GEOGRAPHY Mainly mountainous. Alps and foothills cover the west and south. Lowlands in the east are part of the Danube River basin.
GERMANY
Dornbirn
SWITZ.
Leoben
Innsbruck
s p A l Wolfsberg
LIECH.
ITALY
Villach
SLVKA.
HUNG.
Graz
Klagenfurt SLOVENIA
0 0
50 km 50 miles
LANGUAGES: German*, Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian (Magyar) RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 78%, nonreligious 9%, other 8%, Protestant 5% ETHNIC MIX: Austrian 93%, Croat, Slovene, and Hungarian 6%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
ASIA
165
Azerbaijan Situated on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, it was the first Soviet republic to declare independence in 1991. Territorial disputes with Armenia have dominated politics since. GEOGRAPHY Caucasus Mountains in west, including Naxçivan exclave south of Armenia. Flat, low-lying terrain on the coast of the Caspian Sea. CLIMATE Low rainfall. Continental, with bitter winters, inland. Subtropical in coastal regions.
Quba a u fiäki c a Ku s u ra s Gäncä Mingäàevir
ARMENIA
Ca
Ku
NagornoKarabakh as
u
s
Naxàıvan
Ar
Sumqayıt
ra
Äli-Bayramlı
as
Länkärän
IRAN 4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Below Sea Level
Caspian Sea
BAKU
Xankändi
uc
(86,600 sq. km) DENSITY: 264 people per sq. mile
C
er
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Azerbaijan DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Baku POPULATION: 8.83 million TOTAL AREA: 33,436 sq. miles
RUSS. FED.
GEORGIA
ss
FACTFILE
INSIGHT: The fire-worshipping Zoroastrian faith originated in Azerbaijan in the 6th century BCE
Le
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Azeris, a Muslim people with ethnic links to Turks, form a large majority. Thousands of Armenians, Russians, and Jews have left since independence. Influx of half a million Azeri refugees fleeing war with Armenia over the disputed enclave of Nagorno Karabakh. Armenians there operate with de facto independence. The status of women deteriorated after the fall of communism but they are slowly regaining their position.
THE ECONOMY Oil and natural gas exports drive economic growth. Pipeline to Ceyhan, Turkey, has opened up European market. Severe pollution in Baku.
0 0
100 km 100 miles
LANGUAGES: Azeri*, Russian RELIGIONS: Shi’a Muslim 68%,
Sunni Muslim 26%, Russian Orthodox 3%, Armenian Orthodox 2%, other 1% ETHNIC MIX: Azeri 91%, other 3%, Lazs 2%, Russian 2%, Armenian 2% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: New manat = 100 gopik
166
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Bahamas Located off the Florida coast in the western Atlantic, the Bahamas comprises an archipelago of some 700 islands and 2400 cays, only around 30 of which are inhabited.
so
f
INSIGHT: The country’s extensive merchant fleet consists mainly of “flag-of-convenience” vessels registered by foreign owners a
a it
CLIMATE Subtropical. Hot summers and mild winters. Heavy rainfall, especially in summer. Hurricanes can strike in July–December.
THE ECONOMY Major tourist destination, especially for US visitors. Financial services: banking and insurance.
St r
GEOGRAPHY Long, mainly flat coral formations with a few low hills. Some islands have pine forests, lagoons, and mangrove swamps.
Fl
id or Grand Bahama I.
200m/656ft Sea Level
Freeport Great Abaco
(13,940 sq. km)
O C E A N
Exuma Cays
Cat I. San Salvador d
n
DATE OF FORMATION: 1973 CAPITAL: Nassau POPULATION: 341,700 TOTAL AREA: 5382 sq. miles
Town
ou
of the Bahamas
NASSAU
Andros I. Andros
aS
OFFICIAL NAME: Commonwealth
Eleuthera I. New Providence A T L A N T I C
um
FACTFILE
Berry Is.
Nicholls Town
Ex
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Over 60% of the population live on New Providence. Tourism employs over 40% of the labor force. There are marked wealth disparities, from urban professionals in the banking sector to traditional fishermen on outlying islands and illegal Haitian and Cuban immigrants. More women are now entering the professions. Government priorities are tackling narcotics trafficking and money laundering.
Rum Cay Long I.
Acklins I.
0 0
100 km 100 miles
Crooked I. Mayaguana
Pa ssa Ca i c o s Great Inagua
ge
DENSITY: 88 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: English*, English Creole,
French Creole RELIGIONS: Baptist 32%, other 29%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19% ETHNIC MIX: Black African 85%, other 15% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Bahamian dollar = 100 cents
ASIA
Bahrain
167
Bahrain is an archipelago of 49 islands between the Qatar peninsula and the Saudi Arabian mainland. Only three of the islands are inhabited. It was the first Gulf emirate to export oil. GEOGRAPHY All islands are low-lying. The largest, Bahrain Island, is mainly sandy plains and salt marshes. CLIMATE Summers are hot and humid. Winters are mild. Low rainfall. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The key social division is between the Shi’a majority and Sunni minority. Sunnis hold the best jobs in bureaucracy and business while Shi’as tend to do menial work. The al-Khalifa family has ruled since 1783, but transformed Bahrain into a constitutional monarchy, with limited democracy, in 2002. Bahrain is socially liberal. INSIGHT: The 16 Hawar Islands were awarded to Bahrain in 2001 after a lengthy dispute with Qatar
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Bahrain DATE OF FORMATION: 1971 CAPITAL: Manama POPULATION: 791,500 TOTAL AREA: 239 sq. miles
(620 sq. km) DENSITY: 2899 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Main exports are refined petroleum and aluminum products. As oil reserves run out, natural gas is of increasing importance. Major Middle East offshore banking center, hit by global banking crisis in 2008–2009. Jazírat al Persian Muíarraq Al Busaytín Gulf Al Muíarraq MANAMA To mainland Jidd Íaf§
(Saudi Arabia)
Madínat ‘Ísá Sitrah
Ar Rifá‘ al Umm an Gharbí Na‘sán
Gulf of Bahrain
Ar Rifá‘ ash Sharqí
Ba hra in
Gulf of Bahrain
200m/656ft Sea Level
Hawar Islands 0
10 km
0
10 miles
LANGUAGES: Arabic* RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Shi’a) 99%,
other 1% ETHNIC MIX: Bahraini 70%, Iranian, Indian, and Pakistani 24%, other 6% GOVERNMENT: Mixed monarchicalparliamentary system CURRENCY: Bahraini dinar = 1000 fils
168
ASIA
Bangladesh Bangladesh lies at the north end of the Bay of Bengal and frequently suffers devastating flood, cyclones, and famine. It seceded from Pakistan in 1971. THE ECONOMY Agriculture is vulnerable to unpredictable climate. Bangladesh accounts for 90% of world jute fiber exports. Poor infrastructure deters investment. Growing textile industry.
CLIMATE Hot and humid. During the monsoon, water levels can rise 20 ft (6 m) above sea level.
(144,000 sq. km)
ng
es
Jessore Khulna
(P
t
á
DATE OF FORMATION: 1971 CAPITAL: Dhaka POPULATION: 162 million TOTAL AREA: 55,598 sq. miles
Ga
gh
of Bangladesh
Pabna INDIA
ri n
OFFICIAL NAME: People’s Republic
Mymensingh Shirajganj Ghat Brahmanbaria
Rajshahi
Ha
FACTFILE
Sylhet
Jamalpur
PEOPLE & SOCIETY After a period of military rule, Bangladesh returned to democracy in 1991; political instability has continued, however, and corruption is a major problem. Half of the population live in poverty, but living standards are improving. Women are prominent in politics, but their rights are neglected.
DHAKA ad
ma
Comilla
)
Barisal Mouths Chittagong of the Ganges
B a y o f B e n g a l 0 0
M Y (B ANM UR M AA R )
INSIGHT: Torrential monsoon rains flood two-thirds of the country every year
INDIA
Br ahm
Rangpur Saidpur Dinajpur
500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
ra
a pu t
GEOGRAPHY Mostly flat alluvial plains and deltas of the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers. Southeast coasts are fringed with mangrove forests.
100 km 100 miles
DENSITY: 3138 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Bengali*, Urdu, Chakma,
Marma, Garo, Khasi, Santhali, Tripuri, Mro RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 87%, Hindu 12%, other 1% ETHNIC MIX: Bengali 98%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Taka = 100 poisha
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
169
Barbados Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands. Once solely inhabited by the native Arawak, Barbados was first colonized by British settlers in the 1620s. GEOGRAPHY Encircled by coral reefs. Fertile and predominantly flat, with a few gentle hills to the north. CLIMATE Moderate tropical climate. Sunnier and drier than its more mountainous neighbors.
THE ECONOMY Well-developed tourism sector based on climate and accessibility. Financial services, offshore banking, and information processing are key industries. Sugar production has dwindled. High cost of living. 0
5 km
0
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Some latent tension between white community, which controls politics and much of the economy, and majority black population, but violence is rare. Increasing social mobility has enabled black Barbadians to enter the professions. Despite political stability, and good welfare and education services, pockets of abject poverty remain.
Speightstown ATLANTIC OCEAN Holetown
Bathsheba
Marchfield
BRIDGETOWN Hastings
INSIGHT: Barbados retains a strong British influence and is referred to by its neighbors as “Little England”
Oistins
Grantley Adams Intl. Airport
ATLANTIC OCEAN
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Bajan (Barbadian English),
OFFICIAL NAME: Barbados DATE OF FORMATION: 1966 CAPITAL: Bridgetown POPULATION: 255,900 TOTAL AREA: 166 sq. miles
English*
(430 sq. km) DENSITY: 1542 people per sq. mile
5 miles
200m/656ft Sea Level
RELIGIONS: Anglican 40%, other 24%, nonreligious 17%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, Roman Catholic 4% ETHNIC MIX: Black African 92%, other 8% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Barbados dollar = 100 cents
170
EUROPE
Belarus Literally “White Russia,” Belarus lies landlocked in eastern Europe. It reluctantly became independent when the USSR broke up in 1991. It has few resources other than agriculture.
GEOGRAPHY Mainly plains and low hills. The Dnieper and Dvina rivers drain the eastern lowlands. Vast Pripet Marshes in the southwest.
THE ECONOMY Low unemployment. Industry outmoded and mainly state-owned. Depends on Russia for energy and raw materials: tensions over natural gas prices.
CLIMATE Extreme continental climate. Winters are long, sub-freezing, but mainly dry; summers are hot.
INSIGHT: The number of cancer and leukemia cases soared after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster
Vitsyebsk RUSS. FED.
Orsha Barysaw
Lida Hrodna
Slutsk
Baranavichy
Brest
Pinsk
Pripet Marshes
U K RA IN E
0 0
MINSK
Mahilyow Babruysk
Rechytsa Mazyr
Homyel’
er
(207,600 sq. km) DENSITY: 120 people per sq. mile
rn D vina
i ep
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Belarus DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Minsk POPULATION: 9.63 million TOTAL AREA: 80,154 sq. miles
s te
Dn
FACTFILE
We
LITHUANIA
POLAND
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Only 2% of people are non-Slav, so ethnic tension is minimal. Russian culture dominates. Belarus was the slowest ex-Soviet state to implement political reform; President Lukashenka has been labeled as Europe’s last dictator. Enthusiasm for a merger with Russia has waned. Wealth is held by a small ex-Communist elite. Fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine still seriously affects health and the environment.
LA TV IA 200m/656ft Sea Level
UKRAI NE
100 km 100 miles
LANGUAGES: Belarussian*, Russian* RELIGIONS: Orthodox Christian 60%,
other (including Muslim, Jewish, and Protestant) 32%, Roman Catholic 8% ETHNIC MIX: Belarussian 81%, Russian 11%, Polish 4%, Ukrainian 2%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Belarussian rouble = 100 kopeks
EUROPE
Belgium
171
Belgium lies in northwestern Europe. Its history has been marked by tensions between the majority Dutch-speaking (Flemish) and minority French-speaking (Walloon) communities.
North Sea
Oostende
N ETHERLANDS
Brugge Gent
Kortrijk
Aalst Tournai Mons
FRANCE
Antwerpen Mechelen Leuven
BRUSSELS
Liège
La Louvière
GER.
Namur Charleroi
500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0 0
Ard
en
n
LUX.
40 km 40 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Dutch*, French*,
OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Belgium DATE OF FORMATION: 1830 CAPITAL: Brussels POPULATION: 10.6 million TOTAL AREA: 11,780 sq. miles
German*
(30,510 sq. km) DENSITY: 840 people per sq. mile
se
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Since 1970, Flemish regions have become more prosperous than those of the minority Walloons, overturning traditional roles and increasing friction. Belgium moved to a federal system from 1980 in order to contain tensions, but recent fractious politics have raised doubts over the union’s survival. Brussels hosts key European Union institutions.
INSIGHT: The Ardennes region, in the southeast of the country, is famous for its forests, lakes, and cuisine
Me u
CLIMATE Maritime climate with Gulf Stream influences. Temperatures are mild, with heavy cloud cover and rain. More rainfall and weather fluctuations at the coast.
THE ECONOMY Variety of industrial exports, including steel, glassware, cut diamonds, and textiles. Very high levels of public debt. Bureaucracy larger than European average.
es
GEOGRAPHY Low-lying coastal plain covers two-thirds of the country. Land becomes hilly and forested in the southeast (Ardennes) region.
RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 88%, other 10%, Muslim 2% ETHNIC MIX: Flemish 58%, Walloon 33%, other 6%, Italian 2%, Moroccan 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
172
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Belize Belize lies on the eastern shore of the Yucatan Peninsula. Formerly called British Honduras, Belize was the last Central American country to gain its independence, in 1981.
INSIGHT: Belize’s barrier reef is the second-largest in the world
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Belize DATE OF FORMATION: 1981 CAPITAL: Belmopan POPULATION: 306,800 TOTAL AREA: 8867 sq. miles
(22,966 sq. km) DENSITY: 35 people per sq. mile
50 km 50 miles
Louisville do
Corozal Orange Walk Maskall Crooked Tree Belize City
li
Ho n New Riv ze er
MEXICO
B
e
Reef
BELMOPAN
San Ignacio
Dangriga
M
a
San Antonio Punta Gorda 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
S a r s t oo n
rri
y
Ba
GUATEMALA
er
.
ts
PEOPLE & SOCIETY English-speaking black Creoles are outnumbered by Spanish speakers, including native mestizos and immigrants from neighboring states. The Creoles have traditionally dominated society, but high levels of emigration to the US have weakened their influence. The Afro-Carib garifuna have their own language. Corruption, and trafficking of people and narcotics, are major problems.
0 0
M
CLIMATE Tropical. Very hot and humid, with May–December rainy season.
THE ECONOMY Tourism, agriculture, and offshore banking. Oil extraction began in 2005. Sugar, textiles, lobsters, and shrimp are exported. Serious hurricane damage is a recurring problem.
a
GEOGRAPHY Almost half the land area is forested. Low mountains in southeast. Flat swampy coastal plains.
Monkey River Town Caribbean Sea
LANGUAGES: English Creole, Spanish, English*, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib) RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 62%, other 20%, Anglican 12%, Methodist 6% ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 49%, Creole 25%, Maya 11%, other 9%, Garifuna 6% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Belizean dollar = 100 cents
AFRICA
Benin
173
Benin stretches north from the west African coast. In 1990, Benin became one of the pioneers of African democratization, ending 17 years of one-party Marxist-Leninist rule. GEOGRAPHY Sandy coastal region. Numerous lagoons lie just behind the shoreline. Forested plateaus inland. Mountains in the northwest. CLIMATE Hot and humid in the south. Two rainy seasons. Hot, dusty harmattan winds blow during the December–February dry season.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Benin DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Porto-Novo POPULATION: 8.94 million TOTAL AREA: 43,483 sq. miles
(112,620 sq. km) DENSITY: 209 people per sq. mile
INSIGHT: Voodoo is thought to have originated in Benin, and was taken to Haiti by slaves
NIGER N ig er BURKINA Malanville
Kandi Natitingou Ndali Djougou Parakou TOGO NIGERIA
Savè
500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0 0
100 km 100 miles
Ouéme
PEOPLE & SOCIETY There are 42 different ethnic groups. The southern Fon have tended to dominate politics. Other major groups are the Adja and Yoruba. The northern Fulani follow a nomadic lifestyle. North–south tension is mainly due to the south being more developed. French culture, centered on Cotonou, is highly prized. Substantial differences in wealth reflect a strongly hierarchical society.
THE ECONOMY Strong agricultural sector: cash crops include cotton, oil palm, and cashew nuts. Large-scale smuggling is a serious problem. France is the main aid donor.
Lokossa Ouidah
PORTO-NOVO Cotonou
A TLA NTIC O CEAN
LANGUAGES: Fon, Bariba, Yoruba, Adja, Houeda, Somba, French* RELIGIONS: 50%, Muslim 30%, Christian 20% ETHNIC MIX: Fon 41%, other 21%, Adja 16%, Yoruba 12%, Bariba 10% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
174
ASIA
Bhutan Perched in the eastern Himalayas between India and China lies the landlocked Kingdom of Bhutan. It is largely closed to the outside world to protect its culture; TV was banned until 1999.
GEOGRAPHY Low, tropical southern strip rising through fertile central valleys to high Himalayas in the north. Around 70% of the land is forested. CLIMATE South is tropical, north is alpine, cold, and harsh. Central valleys warmer in east than west. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The king was absolute monarch until 1998, and the first democratic elections were held a decade later. Most people are devoutly Buddhist and originate from Tibet. The Hindu Nepalese settled in the south. Bhutan has 20 languages. In 1988, Dzongkha (a Tibetan dialect native to just 16% of the people) was made the official language. The Nepalese community regard this as “cultural imperialism,” causing considerable ethnic tensions.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Bhutan DATE OF FORMATION: 1656 CAPITAL: Thimphu POPULATION: 697,300 TOTAL AREA: 18,147 sq. miles
(47,000 sq. km) DENSITY: 38 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Reliant on India for trade. Most people farm their own plots of land and herd cattle and yaks. Steep land unsuited for cultivation. Development of cash crops for Asian markets. INSIGHT: In 2004 Bhutan became the first country in the world to ban smoking and the sale of tobacco
CHINA
H i m a l a y a s THIMPHU Wangdi Phodrang
Paro International
Tashigang Shemgang
Chhukha Phuntsholing INDIA
4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Samdrup Jonkhar
0
50 km
0
LANGUAGES: Dzongkha*, Nepali RELIGIONS: Mahayana Buddhist 70%,
Hindu 24%, other 6% ETHNIC MIX: Bhute 50%, other 25%,
Nepalese 25% GOVERNMENT: Mixed monarchical–
parliamentary system CURRENCY: Ngultrum = 100 chetrum
50 miles
SOUTH AMERICA
175
Bolivia Landlocked high in central South America, Bolivia is one of the region’s poorest countries. La Paz is the world’s highest capital city: 13,385 feet (3631 m) above sea level.
THE ECONOMY Gold, silver, zinc, tin, oil, natural gas: all vulnerable to world price fluctuations. Social issues and nationalization of natural gas sector deter investors. Major coca producer. Lack of manufacturing. Rich eastern provinces want autonomy.
CLIMATE Altiplano has extreme tropical climate, with night-frost in winter. North and east are hot and humid. PERU
Lake Titicaca
d
Gr an
p l a Potosí no Tupiza Tarija
Puerto Suárez
o ac Ch
PARAGUAY
s
(1,098,580 sq. km)
Santa Cruz
SUCRE
Alti
e
POPULATION: 9.86 million TOTAL AREA: 424,162 sq. miles
BRAZIL
n
Sucre (judicial)
ré
Montero
Cochabamba Oruro
CHILE
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Bolivia DATE OF FORMATION: 1825 CAPITAL: La Paz (administrative);
ap o
LA PAZ
INSIGHT: Between 1825 and 1982 Bolivia averaged more than one armed coup a year
FACTFILE
Gu
Trinidad
A
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The indigenous majority faces widespread discrimination. Wealthy Spanish-descended families have traditionally controlled the economy. Amerindian Evo Morales, president from 2005, pledged to cut poverty, legalize coca, and redistribute land.
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Guayaramerín Riberalta Ben i
GEOGRAPHY A high windswept plateau, the altiplano, lies between two Andean mountain ranges. Semiarid grasslands to the east; dense tropical forests to the north.
A RG EN TIN A
0 0
200 km 200 miles
DENSITY: 24 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Aymara*, Quechua*, Spanish* RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 93%,
other 7% ETHNIC MIX: Quechua 37%, Aymara 32%, mixed 13%, European 10%, other 8% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Boliviano = 100 centavos
176
EUROPE
Bosnia & Herzegovina Perched in the highlands of southeast Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina was the focus of the bitter ethnic conflict which accompanied the early 1990s dissolution of the Yugoslav state. THE ECONOMY Potential to recover status as a thriving market economy with a strong manufacturing base, but still struggles with resettling refugees and the legacy of war. Little investment.
CLIMATE Continental. Hot summers and cold, often snowy winters.
Modriâa
REPUBLICA SRPSKA
D Banja Luka in
Doboj
Travnik
B
ic
Zvornik D
Zenica Srebrenica
Bugojno
A s lp CROATIA
FEDERACIJA BOSNA I HERCEGOVINA
rin
a
SARAJEVO
Mostar 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0
MONTENEGRO
50 km
0
50 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Bosnian*, Serbian*,
OFFICIAL NAME: Bosnia and Herzegovina DATE OF FORMATION: 1992 CAPITAL: Sarajevo POPULATION: 3.77 million TOTAL AREA: 19,741 sq. miles
Croatian*
(51,129 sq. km) DENSITY: 191 people per sq. mile
SERBIA
Tuzla
os
Bihaá
r
INSIGHT: The murder of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo in 1914 triggered the First World War
CROATIA
a
a
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Despite sharing the same origin and spoken language, Bosnians have been divided by history between Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Muslim Bosniaks. Ethnic cleansing was practiced by all sides in the civil war, displacing about 60% of the population. Hopes for EU integration will require further ethnic reconciliation.
Sa v
Prijedor
na
GEOGRAPHY Hills and mountains, with narrow river valleys. Lowlands in the north. Mainly deciduous forest covers about half of the total area.
RELIGIONS: Muslim 40%, Orthodox
Christian 31%, Catholic 15%, other 14% ETHNIC MIX: Bosniak 44%, Serb 31%,
Croat 17%, other 8% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Marka = 100 pfeninga
AFRICA
177
Botswana Landlocked in the heart of southern Africa, Botswana boasts the world’s largest inland river delta. Diamonds provide potential wealth, but the country is crippled by HIV/AIDS.
THE ECONOMY Overreliance on diamonds: vulnerable to world price fluctuations. Beef is exported to Europe. Tourism aimed at wealthy wildlife enthusiasts. AIDS is devastating the population.
CLIMATE Dry and prone to drought. Summer wet season, April–October. Winters are warm, with cold nights.
K
INSIGHT: Water, Botswana’s most precious resource, is honored in the name of the currency – pula
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Botswana DATE OF FORMATION: 1966 CAPITAL: Gaborone POPULATION: 1.95 million TOTAL AREA: 231,803 sq. miles
(600,370 sq. km) DENSITY: 9 people per sq. mile
nd wa
o
Kasane
Ok a v a n go NAMIBIA
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The nomadic San bushmen, the first inhabitants, are marginalized. One in four adults are living with HIV/AIDS: only Swaziland is worse affected. Life expectancy is around 50 years. Diamond revenue has widened wealth inequalities.
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft
ZAMBIA
Delt a
ZIMBABWE
Maun Makgadikgadi
Ghanzi
Francistown Selebi Phikwe Serowe
Kalahari Desert
Mahalapye Li m
GEOGRAPHY Lies on vast plateau, high above sea level. Hills in the east. Kalahari Desert in center and southwest. Swamps and salt pans elsewhere and in Okavango Basin.
GABORONE Kanye Lobatse
0 0
po
po
Mochudi SOU T H A FRI CA
200 km 200 miles
LANGUAGES: Setswana, English*, Shona, San, Khoikhoi, isiNdebele RELIGIONS: Traditional beliefs 50%, Christian (mainly Protestant) 30%, other (including Muslim) 20% ETHNIC MIX: Tswana 98%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Pula = 100 thebe
178
SOUTH AMERICA
Brazil Covering almost half of South America, Brazil is the site of the world’s largest and ecologically most important rainforest. The country has immense natural and economic resources.
GEOGRAPHY Rainforest grows around the massive Amazon River and its delta, covering almost half of Brazil’s total land area. Apart from the basin of the River Plate to the south, the rest of the country consists of highlands. The mountainous east is part-forested and part-desert. The coastal plain in the southeast has swampy areas. The Atlantic coastline is 1240 miles (2000 km) long. CLIMATE Brazil’s share of the Amazon Basin has a model tropical equatorial climate, with high temperatures and rainfall all year round. The Brazilian plateau has far greater seasonal variation. The dry northeast suffers frequent droughts, though coastal regions are occasionally flooded by bouts of torrential rain. The south has hot summers and cool winters.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Federative Rep. of Brazil DATE OF FORMATION: 1822 CAPITAL: Brasília POPULATION: 194 million TOTAL AREA: 3,286,470 sq. miles
(8,511,965 sq. km) DENSITY: 59 people per sq. mile
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Diverse population includes Amerindians, black people of African descent, European immigrants, and those of mixed race. Amerindians suffer prejudice from most other groups. Shanty towns in the cities attract poor migrants from the northeast. Urban crime, violent land disputes, and unchecked development in Amazonia tarnish Brazil’s image as a modern nation. Catholicism and the family unit remain strong.
Equatorr
COLOMBIA
PERU
THE ECONOMY Dominant regional economy. Huge potential for growth based on abundant natural resources. A leading exporter of coffee, sugar, and orange juice. Social tension threatens stability. Infrastructure needs investment.
LANGUAGES: Portuguese*, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Japanese, other RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 15%, atheist 7%, other 4% ETHNIC MIX: White 54%, Mixed race 38%, Black 6%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Real = 100 centavos
SOUTH AMERICA
Santarém rém rré éém m
ap
a
T
Ar
ão
S
en a
JJuaz ua uaz u a eei eiro eir iro rro o do d o Norrrte tee
Rep R Repr Repre epre p ssaa dee S d Soo brad bbr d iinbo bradi nbbo n nbo bo
s co
Tagu Tagu Tagua uaat atin ati tiin ttin ing gaa
nci
P d e M lan al ato to Gr os so Cuia Cu C uiabá ui u bá
San Fernando dee No N ronha ron
Na N atal at JJo oão ão Pessoa Olinda Reeec R eci ci c fe Maaac Mac M ace ce eió ei
Arac Ar Ara A rac ra accaju aj FFeir Fei Fe eeiiirra de eir de Sa Santana S
Fra
s
Camp Cam am ina am ina a Gran Gra G rran rande d
S ão
ci
aia
re
gu
Pa
For FFo ort orttale a a alez
Salv Sal SSa aalv lv lvador ado Brazilian Ita IIt tta tab ab buna un Highlands Vit Vitó V Vi it itó ittó óri rria iia a da da Conquista Goiâ oiâ oi iiââni ân nia i ia Mont Mon M Mo ont on ont ntes es Clla Cla Clar C llar aarros os Ub Uber Ube U beerrlâ ber be lând lân ând âân nd n dia ia Gove Go Gov G o ove ov ve v rn rrna nad n aad dor Valadares do Uber Ube Ub be ber b eraaba er ab ba ba Bel Belo B Be eelo ello oH Hor Ho o orizo izon zzon zo o on nte te Camp C amp mp m po Gran Gran Gr an nd dee Riibe Rib Ribe R ib ib beeirã eiirã irrrã rão ãão o Pre Prre Pr reto etto o Baur Ba B auru au Vitó V itó tó ória ia ia Nov N Nova No ova ov o va va Cam C Ca aam mpos mp Caamp Cam Camp am mp m p pinas inas in nas n na aass P A RAG GUAY Lon Lo LLond ond o on ndrri nd rin rina iin na n a Ca Igua gua uaaçu u çu Duqu uqu qu q ue de de Cax Ca ias á SSão ão o PPau Pa Paul aau aul uo Riio d Ri Rio de e Jan anei ane n ro Sant San Sant anttos os Curi Cur Cu C uri u riti ri itib tiba tiba ba ba Join JJo oiin oin o invi vill vvil iillll e Fllo Fl orianópolis ARG EN T IN NA ATLANTIC Caxi Cax Ca C axi aax xias iaass do Sul Po Po ort or rrtto to Al Alegre Ale eg A
an
al
BRA B RA RAS SÍÍL SÍL ÍLIIA A
P a r an
BOLIVIA
dos
a
TTe Ter eerrre ere esin sin sina ina na
nt
ré
a
Juru
apo
ay
Gu
ada
a íb
Pa
Chap
M
el nu
ip u an ã
Rio Rio oB Bran Bra ran rra aan ncco o
Impe mp mpe m peeratr raatttrriizz
T o c a n ti
Port PPor Po o o Veellho ho o
SSão ão Luís Luís Lu uí
ns
i
us
OCEAN
E Equat Eq or
gu
I rir
r Pu
aj
ós M
eir
Xin
Ju
ad
P a ra gu
á
ru
B a s i n
I lha Ilha Ilh lh lh haa de de Maraj M ara j ó B araj Belé Belé lém
on
n
A maz
Man M Mana ana an nau na uss
P ar
ro
A m a z o n
Mac Ma Maca M aca ac pá pá
ra
R i o Ne g
Japurá
ATLANTIC
H i g h l a n d s
T o c a nt
n co
B ra
G u i a n a
i ns
SURI SURIN SUR S UR URIN U RIN R IN NAM AME AME ME GUYAN GUYA G UYAN UYA U ANA AN ANA
Boa B Bo oa Vista oa Viist Vist Vis V i ta
INSIGHT: Since 1900, a third of Brazil’s indigenous Amerindian groups have become extinct due to disease, starvation, or the forceful taking of land by miners, loggers, and settlers
French h Guia ian an a na na (Fra Fran ran ra an ncce) cee) e)
VENEZUELA
179
Lago La Lag Lagoa agoa aag g oa goa go oa d doooss Pa dos P aatos Patos tos
OCEA N
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Pelo Pel PPe elo eel lottas lo taaas UR UGU UA AY Y
Riio R Rio io Gr Gr de Gran
Miri Mirim Mir Mi M iirim irr i Lag L Lagoon La
0 0
500 km 500 miles
180
ASIA
Brunei Lying on the northern coast of the island of Borneo, Brunei is surrounded and divided in two by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It has been independent since 1984.
GEOGRAPHY Mostly dense lowland rainforest and mangrove swamps, with some mountains in the southeast. CLIMATE Tropical. Six-month rainy season with very high humidity. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Malays benefit from positive discrimination. Many in the Chinese community are stateless. Since a failed rebellion in 1962, Brunei has been ruled by decree of the sultan. In 1990, “Malay Muslim Monarchy” was introduced, promoting Islamic values as state ideology. Women, less restricted than in some Muslim states, usually wear headscarves but not the veil.
THE ECONOMY Oil and natural gas production has brought one of the world’s highest standards of living. Massive overseas investments. Major consumer of hightech hi-fi, video equipment, and Western designer clothes. 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
So uth C hina Sea Pekan Muara
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Kampong Bunut Tutong
Bangar
Pekan Seria Kampong Bukit Sawat
Kuala Belait
Kampong Batang Duri
Kampong Tanajor Kampong Sukang
Kampong Teraja
B
o
r
n
MALAYSIA
e o 0
INSIGHT: The sultan spent US$350 million building the world’s largest palace at Bandar Seri Begawan
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Malay*, English,
OFFICIAL NAME: Sultanate of Brunei DATE OF FORMATION: 1984 CAPITAL: Bandar Seri Begawan POPULATION: 399,700 TOTAL AREA: 2228 sq. miles
Chinese
(5770 sq. km) DENSITY: 196 people per sq. mile
20 km
0
RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 66%,
Buddhist 14%, other 10%, Christian 10% ETHNIC MIX: Malay 67%, Chinese 16%,
other 11%, indigenous 6% GOVERNMENT: Monarchy CURRENCY: Brunei dollar = 100 cents
20 miles
EUROPE
181
Bulgaria Located in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria was under communist rule from 1947 to 1989. Political and economic reform since then enabled it to join the EU in 2007. GEOGRAPHY Mountains run east–west across center and along southern border. Danube plain in north, Thracian plain in southeast. Black Sea to the east. CLIMATE Warm summers and snowy winters, especially in mountains. East winds bring seasonal extremes. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The communists tried forcibly to suppress cultural identities, leading to a large exodus of Bulgarian Turks in 1989. Later privatization programs left many Turks landless, prompting further emigration. Roma suffer discrimination at all levels of society. Women have equal rights in theory, but society remains patriarchal. EU accession included caveats demanding further action against organized crime, human trafficking, and corruption.
THE ECONOMY Good agricultural production, including grapes, for well-developed wine industry, and tobacco. Expertise in software development. Industry and infrastructure are outdated. INSIGHT: Archaeologists have found evidence of wine-making in Bulgaria dating back over 5000 years ROMANIA D
an u be
SERBIA
Ruse Pleven
Vratsa
Dobrich Shumen
Pernik
Pazardzhik
Kazanlûk Plovdiv
Burgas Black Sea
Stara Yambol Zagora
Khaskovo
MAC.
TURKEY
GREECE
0 0
50 km 50 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Bulgarian*, Turkish,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Bulgaria DATE OF FORMATION: 1908 CAPITAL: Sofia POPULATION: 7.54 million TOTAL AREA: 42,822 sq. miles
Romani
(110,910 sq. km) DENSITY: 177 people per sq. mile
Varna
Veliko Tûrnovo
Ba lka n Mountians Sliven SOFIA
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
RELIGIONS: Orthodox Christian 83%, Muslim 12%, other 4%, Catholic 1% ETHNIC MIX: Bulgarian 84%, Turkish 9%, Roma 5%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Lev = 100 stotinki
182
AFRICA
Burkina The west African state of Burkina was known as Upper Volta until 1984. It became a multiparty state in 1991, though former military ruler Blaise Compaoré remains in power.
GEOGRAPHY The Sahara covers the north of the country. The south is largely savanna. The three main rivers are the Black, White, and Red Voltas.
THE ECONOMY Cotton is the major cash crop, but the encroaching Sahara Desert is restricting agriculture. Beneficiary of foreign debt cancellation plans.
CLIMATE Tropical. Dry, cool weather November–February. Erratic rain March–April, mostly in southeast.
INSIGHT: Droughts and poor soils mean that many Burkinabes seek work southward in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire
Kaya
OUAGADOUGOU
Koudougou Re d
CÔTE D 'IV OIRE (IV ORY COA ST)
Fada-Ngourma
GHANA
Tenkodogo a
lt
Léo
Banfora
Vo lta
Vo
ta ol ck V Bobo-Dioulasso B la
ite
(274,200 sq. km) DENSITY: 149 people per sq. mile
NIGER
Ouahigouya
Wh
OFFICIAL NAME: Burkina Faso DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Ouagadougou POPULATION: 15.8 million TOTAL AREA: 105,869 sq. miles
MALI
V ol t a
FACTFILE
500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
B l a ck
PEOPLE & SOCIETY No single ethnic group is dominant, but the Mossi, from around Ouagadougou, have always played an important part in government. The people from the west are much more ethnically mixed. Extreme poverty has led to a strong sense of egalitarianism. Most women are still denied access to education, though their absence from public life belies their real power and social influence.
BENI N TOGO
0 0
100 km 100 miles
LANGUAGES: Mossi, Fulani, French*, Tuareg, Dyula, Songhai RELIGIONS: Muslim 55%, Traditional beliefs 35%, Roman Catholic 9%, other Christian 1% ETHNIC MIX: Other 52%, Mossi 48% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
AFRICA
183
Burundi Small, densely populated and landlocked, Burundi lies just south of the equator, on the Nile–Congo watershed in central Africa. Its people have the world’s lowest per capita income. GEOGRAPHY Hilly with high plateaus in center and savanna in the east. Great Rift Valley on western side. CLIMATE Temperate, with high humidity. Heavy and frequent rainfall, mostly October–May. Highlands have frost.
THE ECONOMY Overwhelmingly agricultural economy, mostly subsistence. Small quantities of gold and tungsten. Potential of oil in Lake Tanganyika. Little prospect of lasting stability.
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Burundi has been riven by ethnic conflict between majority Hutu and the Tutsi, who controlled the army – with repeated large-scale massacres: hundreds of thousands of people have died since 1993. The constitution now guarantees an ethnic balance in the government and army. Twa pygmies were not involved in the conflict. INSIGHT: Burundi’s fertility rate is one of the highest in Africa. On average, women have seven children
Kirundo
RWA N D A
Muyinga
Ngozi
Kayanza Bubanza
Cankuzo Karuzi
BUJUMBURA
Ruyigi Gitega
DEM.REP. CONGO
TANZANI A
Bururi Lake Tanganyika
Rutana Makamba Nyanza-Lac
0
50 km
0
50 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Kirundi*, French*,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Burundi DATE OF FORMATION: 1962 CAPITAL: Bujumbura POPULATION: 8.3 million TOTAL AREA: 10,745 sq. miles
Kiswahili
(27,830 sq. km) DENSITY: 838 people per sq. mile
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft
RELIGIONS: Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 60%, traditional beliefs 39%, Muslim 1% ETHNIC MIX: Hutu 85%, Tutsi 14%, Twa 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Burundi franc = 100 centimes
184
ASIA
Cambodia Located on the Indochinese peninsula in southeast Asia, Cambodia has emerged from genocide, civil war, and invasion from Vietnam. Tourists are returning. Rice is the principal crop.
GEOGRAPHY Mostly low-lying basin. Tônlé Sap (Great Lake) drains into the Mekong River. Forested mountains and plateau east of the Mekong. CLIMATE Tropical. High temperatures throughout the year. Heavy rainfall during May–October monsoon. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Devastated by US bombing, then by the Khmer Rouge regime, whose extreme Marxist program killed over a million between 1975 and 1979, Cambodia then endured further civil conflict and Vietnamese occupation. The effects are still felt, reflected in the high rates of orphans, widows, and land-mine victims. A fragile stability has lasted since elections in 1993. King Norodom Sihanouk, a key figure in politics, abdicated in 2004.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Cambodia DATE OF FORMATION: 1953 CAPITAL: Phnom Penh POPULATION: 14.8 million TOTAL AREA: 69,900 sq. miles
(181,040 sq. km) DENSITY: 217 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Economy is heavily aid-reliant, still recovering from civil war. Exports rubber and timber. Self-sufficient in rice. Garment industry is growing. Land disputes and corruption issues. INSIGHT: Cambodia has many impressive temples, dating from when the country was the center of the Khmer Empire TH A ILA N D
Phumî Sâmraông Sisôphôn
Chôâm Khsant
Bâtdâmbâng
Mekong
Kâmpóng Chhnâng
Krông Kaôh Kông
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Virôchey Phumî Kâmpóng Trâbék
Tônlé Sap
Poûthîsât
G ulf of Tha ila nd
LA OS
Krâchéh
Kâmpóng Cham
PHNOM PENH Prey Vêng
Kâmpóng Saôm
VIETNAM
0
100 km
0
LANGUAGES: Khmer*, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham RELIGIONS: Buddhist 93%, Muslim 6%, Christian 1% ETHNIC MIX: Khmer 90%, other 5%, Vietnamese 4%, Chinese 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Riel = 100 sen
100 miles
AFRICA
Cameroon
185
Situated in the corner of the Gulf of Guinea, Cameroon was effectively a one-party state for 30 years. Multiparty elections, since 1992, regularly return that same party to power. GEOGRAPHY Over half the land is forested: equatorial rainforest in north, evergreen forest and wooded savanna in south. Mountains in the west.
THE ECONOMY Oil reserves. Very diversified agricultural economy – timber, cocoa, bananas, coffee. Fuel smuggling from Nigeria undermines refinery profits. Corruption. Port for Chad and CAR.
CLIMATE South is equatorial, with plentiful rainfall, declining inland. Far north is beset by drought. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Around 230 ethnic groups; no single group is dominant. The Bamileke is the largest, though it has never held political power. North–south tensions are diminished by the ethnic diversity. There is more rivalry between majority Frenchand minority English-speakers.
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Maroua 0 0
NIGERIA
100 km
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Cameroon DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Yaoundé POPULATION: 19.5 million TOTAL AREA: 183,567 sq. miles
(475,400 sq. km) DENSITY: 109 people per sq. mile
Garoua
100 miles
Ngaoundéré Meiganga
Bamenda
Kumbo Bafoussam Nkongsamba
Kumba Douala
INSIGHT: Cameroon’s name derives from the Portuguese word camarões, after the shrimp fished by the early European explorers
CHAD Lake Chad
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
YAOUNDÉ Edéa
EQ. GUINEA
Mbalmayo Ebolowa GABON
C ONGO
LANGUAGES: Bamileke, Fang, Fulani, French*, English* RELIGIONS: Catholic 35%, traditional beliefs 25%, Muslim 22%, Protestant 18% ETHNIC MIX: Highlanders 31%, other 39%, equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
186
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Canada Canada extends from the Arctic to its US border along the 49th parallel. Unified under British rule from 1763, its development and expansion attracted large-scale immigration.
GEOGRAPHY The world’s second-largest country, stretching north to Cape Colombia on Ellesmere Island, south to Lake Erie, and across five time zones from the Pacific seaboard to Newfoundland. Arctic tundra and islands in the far north give way southward to forests, interspersed with lakes and rivers, and then the vast Canadian Shield, which covers over half the area of Canada. Rocky Mountains in west, beyond which are the Coast Mountains, islands, and fjords. Fertile lowlands in the east. CLIMATE Ranges from polar and subpolar in the north, to continental in the south. Winters in the interior are colder and longer than on the coast, with temperatures well below freezing and deep snow; summers are hotter. Pacific coast has the mildest winters.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Canada DATE OF FORMATION: 1867 CAPITAL: Ottawa POPULATION: 33.6 million TOTAL AREA: 3,855,171 sq. miles
(9,984,670 sq. km) DENSITY: 9 people per sq. mile
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Two-thirds of the population live in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence lowlands, fostering some shared cultural values with the neighboring US. Important differences, however, include wider welfare provision and Commonwealth membership. The French-speaking Québécois wish to preserve their culture and language from further Anglicization, and demand to be recognized as a “distinct society.” The government welcomes ethnic diversity among immigrants, promoting a policy that encourages each group to maintain its own culture. Land claims made by the indigenous peoples are being redressed. Nunavut, an Inuit-governed territory that covers nearly a quarter of Canada’s land area, was created from a portion of the Northwest Territories in 1999. Women are well represented at most levels of business and government.
LANGUAGES: English*, French*, other RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 44%, Protestant
29%, other 27% ETHNIC ORIGIN: British, French, and other
European 87%, Asian 9%, Amerindian, Métis, and Inuit 4% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Canadian dollar = 100 cents
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
THE ECONOMY Wide-ranging resources, providing exports, cheap energy, and raw materials for manufacturing, underpin a high standard of living, with smaller wealth disparities than in the US. Prices for primary exports fluctuate, but the high oil price has encouraged development of Alberta’s vast oil fields. Manufactured exports have flourished under growing global
ARCTIC OCEAN
UNITED STATES S OF AMERICA A (ALASKA) A))
Pole P o
Baffin Bay
Bath Bathu B Ba at athu aath th tthu h u rrst hu rssstt I .
Deevon Devon D e von on n II.
ait
ck
zi
k en z i
en
Melv Me Melvi M eelvi elllv elv v i ll vi lle llee Peni P Penin Pe Pen een nin n in n sul ssula su ula ul u lla
e
eM ou
nta
Gre Great G Gr rreeat eatt S Sll e Slav Lake La L aakee
sc a
ba ha At
St. St.J SSt t..JJohn tt.J oh ohn’ o hn’ hn hn’ n’ s
ALB ALBE AL A LB LLBE BEE R B RTTA RTA TA SSASK SAS SA ASSSK ASK A KA KAT ATCH ATC AT TTC TCH CHEW CH EWAN EEWA WAN W WA AN AN EEd Edm Edmo dmo d dm mo m on nto nt nton ton ton n Lake Lak Lake akkee ak
ins
Sask SSa aas askkaatoo atto ato ttoo oo o on Leth LLet Le ettth eeth hbrid brrid riid idg gee Re Reg R Regi egi eeg g giina na
Jame Jam JJames ames am ame mes m me eess Bay B Ba aayy
ON T A R IO Winn Win W Wi iin nnipeg n peg pe p eeg g Thun Thu TTh hun hu h und un dee Ba der Bay B aayy
Lakee Michigan n
0
400 km 400 miles
Q U É B EC
Winn Win Winni W inn in nni nn n n pe peg eg
Lak Lake Lak La aake kkee Super perrior ioorr io UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
0
Labrador
MANI MAN MA M ANI AN A NII TTOBA N TO TOB OBA OB O BA B A
aw
nta
s i n t a u n M o
u C o a st M o
Hudson Bay
Lak Lake L ake aak kkee Athab Ath Atha A thab th hhaa asca sca sc ccaa
Calg C Ca aalgary ryy
Labrador Sea NEWFO U & LAB NDLAN RAD D OR
d’Ung d’Un d ’Un ’Ung ’U Un U n ava ng va va
St L
ins
k y R o c
NU N A V U T Iq Iqal IIqa qal qa q aallu uiiitt uit NORTHWEST (Fr (F ((Fro FFr Fro rro ob bis bish bi ish iis sh heerr Baay ay) yy) South S So Sou oou uth u tthh ampto ampt am aamp mpto mp m mpt ppto ptto t o n I. I TERRITORIES Yeel Yel Yell Y eellllllo owkn owk ow wkn wk w kn knif knif iffe ife P énin Pénin nin in n ssu sule sul ule ul u llee
Va Van V anc an nccou n ouve ouv o uve u uv ver ve Vict cttor oria ori o rria iaa Vanc
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Dav is S tr
Baff Baf B Ba aff aaf ffffin fin n Isla sllan sslan lan la an d
Great Gr Grea rea rea re ea Be Bear Bea ear ear ea ar Lake Lak L La aak ake ke ke
BR IT I S H C O L U M B I A eace P
V Vanco u ve uv v eerr Islan an nd
Elllle E leesmer m e I.
+ Magne Magnet gne net etic et ic No Nor N orrth o th
Vic Victo Vi V icto i cto ttoooria ria rri iiaa Islan IIsla Is slan ssla sllla lan aand nd
M ac
a
YU YU YUKO YUK UK UKO K KO ON ON T EERR ER R R IITOR RR ITTO ITO TTOR OR O ORY RY Wh Whit Whi W hiit hit h iteeh eho hor h ho orrssee o
Quee en en Charloo tttte te Islan an nd
INSIGHT: The Magnetic North Pole, where the dipping needle of a compass stands still, migrates across northern Canada
Baan B Ban Bank aank nkkkss I. nks n I.
M
PACIF F IC FI IC OCEA AN
competition, especially since the creation of the NAFTA free trade area, but reliance on the US market makes the Canadian economy vulnerable to US slowdowns. Unemployment rose during the 2009 recession.
Qu Quee uee eeen E Ell iza izab izab iz za zab abeth etth et h Isla IIs ssla llands la an nds nd ddss Paar Parr P aarr rry Is rr Is lla land lan an aand ndds n
Beaufort Sea
187
Lake kee Huron Huro Hu Hur H u uron ur rro ron oon n
TToro To Tor oro o orrro on nto nt tto o Ham miillto m ltto to on n Wind Wi Win W iin n so orr
r
Gul Gulf Gu G ullf ulf u l New Ne N ew eewf wff oou w ound oun un und u nd ndl dla laan lan nd nd off Newf ce en S Stt L Lawr wrenc renc ren enc en enc nce PRINCE PRINC NC NC CEE EDWAR EDWARD ED EEDW DWARD DWAR DW D WAR WARD W ARD AR AR RD D II.. NEW NE N W
BRU B BR RU R U UNSW UN NSW NSW WIICK C CK K Qu Qué Q Québ u uéb ué ééb bec ec Hali Hal H Ha aaliliifax fax Lav La LLava aav ava vvaal NO N O OVA OV VA V SCOTIA Mont Mon Mo M o on ont ntrréa nt ré réal ééal éa al al
OTT OTTA O OT T TT TTA TAW TA WA A
Osh Os O sha ssh h ha aw waa
Lak La L aak ake Ontario i io Niaga Nia N i ra Falls Laaak Lake L Lak ake k Erie
ATLANTIC OCEA N
188
AFRICA
Cape Verde Off the west coast of Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean, lies the group of islands that make up Cape Verde, a Portuguese colony until it gained independence in 1975.
GEOGRAPHY Ten main islands and eight smaller islets, all of volcanic origin. Mostly mountainous, with steep cliffs and rocky headlands.
THE ECONOMY Most people are subsistence farmers. Clothing is the main export. No natural resources. Mid-Atlantic location ensures work maintaining ships and planes.
CLIMATE Warm, and very dry. Subject to droughts that can sometimes last for years at a time.
0
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most people are of mixed Portuguese–African origin; the rest are descendants of African slaves or more recent immigrants. Creolization of the culture negates ethnic tensions. Almost half of the population live on Santiago. Around 700,000 Cape Verdeans live abroad, mostly in the US.
0
50 km
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
50 miles
Santo Antão
Mindelo São Vicente
Sal
Santa Luzia
São Nicolau
Sal Rei
Ilhas de Barlavento
Boa Vista
A T L A N T I C O C E A N Maio
Ilhas de Sotavento Tarrafil
INSIGHT: Poor soils and lack of surface water mean that Cape Verde is dependent on food aid
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Cape Verde DATE OF FORMATION: 1975 CAPITAL: Praia POPULATION: 505,600 TOTAL AREA: 1557 sq. miles
(4033 sq. km) DENSITY: 325 people per sq. mile
Brava
São Filipe Fogo
PRAIA
Santiago (São Tiago)
LANGUAGES: Creole, Portuguese* RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 97%,
other 2%, Protestant 1% ETHNIC MIX: Mestiço 60%, African 30%,
other 10% GOVERNMENT: Mixed presidential-
parliamentary system CURRENCY: C.V. escudo = 100 centavos
AFRICA
Central African Republic
189
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country lying between the basins of the Chad and Congo Rivers. Politics has suffered frequent interruption by military coups. GEOGRAPHY Comprises a low plateau, covered by scrub or savanna. North is arid. Equatorial rainforests in the south. The Ubangi River forms the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. CLIMATE The south is equatorial; the north is hot and dry. Rain occurs all year round, with heaviest falls between July and October.
INSIGHT: “Emperor” Bokassa’s eccentric rule from 1965 to 1979 was followed by military dictatorship until democracy was restored in 1993 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Birao
CHAD
Batangafo Bozoum Sibut Bouar Carnot
Ndélé
Berbérati
ER O
O
CONGO
Ouanda Djallé
SUDAN
Kaga Bandoro Bambari
BANGUI
CAM
Bangassou Mobaye
Ub an g i
D EM . REP. CON G O
N
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The Baya and Banda are the largest ethnic groups, but the lingua franca is Sango, a trading creole spoken by the minorities in the south who have traditionally provided most political leaders. Less than 2% of the population live in the north. Recent rebellions by northern groups have displaced thousands of people.
THE ECONOMY Dominated by subsistence farming. Exports include diamonds, cotton, timber, and coffee. Aid needed to support refugees. Instability and poor infrastructure hinder progress.
0
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Sango, Banda, Gbaya,
OFFICIAL NAME: Central African Republic DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Bangui POPULATION: 4.42 million TOTAL AREA: 240,534 sq. miles
French*
(622,984 sq. km) DENSITY: 18 people per sq. mile
200 km
0
RELIGIONS: Traditional beliefs 60%, Christian 35%, Muslim 5% ETHNIC MIX: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 21%, Sara 10%, other 8% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
200 miles
190
AFRICA
Chad Landlocked in north-central Africa, Chad has had a turbulent history since independence from France in 1960. Intermittent periods of civil war followed a military coup in 1975.
GEOGRAPHY Mostly plateaus sloping west-ward to Lake Chad. Northern third is Sahara. Tibesti Mountains in north rise to 10,826 ft (3300 m). CLIMATE Three distinct zones: desert in north, semiarid region in center, and tropics in south.
THE ECONOMY The discovery of oil, and the opening of a pipeline to the coast via Cameroon, are transforming Chad’s economy, though the new wealth is unlikely to reach most people. 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Half the population live in the southern fifth of Chad. The northern third has only 100,000 people, mainly Muslim Toubou nomads. Democracy was restored in 1996 by ex-coup leader Idriss Déby. Instability has continued, first with tension between Muslims and southern Christians and, more recently, with rebellions in the east.
LIBYA Tibe s t i
S
Bol Lake Chad NIGERIA
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Chad DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Ndjamena POPULATION: 11.2 million TOTAL AREA: 495,752 sq. miles
(1,284,000 sq. km) DENSITY: 23 people per sq. mile
h
a
r
a
Abéché SUDAN
Mongo
NDJAMENA Bongor Fianga CAMEROON
INSIGHT: Lake Chad is slowly drying up – it is now estimated to be just 10% of the size it was in 1970
a
NIGER
Sarh Bénoy Doba
Moundou 0 0
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
200 km 200 miles
LANGUAGES: French*, Sara, Arabic*, Maba RELIGIONS: Muslim 55%, traditional beliefs
35%, Christian 10% ETHNIC MIX: Other 30%, Sara 28%,
Mayo-Kebbi 12%, Arab 12%, Ouaddai 9%, Kanem-Bornou 9% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
SOUTH AMERICA
Chile
191
Chile extends in a ribbon down the west coast of South America. It returned to elected civilian rule in 1989 after a referendum forced out military dictator General Pinochet.
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most people are of mixed Spanish–Amerindian descent, and are highly urbanized. Almost a third of the population live in Santiago, many in large slums. There are three main indigenous groups, including the Rapa Nui of Easter Island. General Pinochet’s dictatorship was brutally repressive, but the business and middle classes prospered.
A n ca m a D e s e rt de s
Antofagasta
a
PACIFIC OCEAN
At
INSIGHT: Chile’s Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth
Viña del Mar Valparaíso SANTIAGO Rancagua Talca Talcahuano Chillán Concepción Temuco Valdivia Puerto Montt 4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft Sea Level
0 0
300 km 300 miles
Isla de Chiloé
s
CLIMATE Arid in the north. Hot, dry summers and mild winters in the center. Higher Andean peaks have glaciers and year-round snow. Very wet and stormy in the south.
THE ECONOMY World’s biggest copper producer. Growth in foreign investment due to PERU political stability. Exports BOLIVIA Arica include wine, fishmeal, Iquique fruits, and salmon.
Ande
GEOGRAPHY Fertile valleys in the center between the coast and the Andes. Atacama Desert in north. Deep-sea channels, lakes, and fjords in south.
ARGENTINA
Punta Arenas Strait of Magellan Cape Horn
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Amerindian
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Chile DATE OF FORMATION: 1818 CAPITAL: Santiago POPULATION: 17 million TOTAL AREA: 292,258 sq. miles
languages
(756,950 sq. km) DENSITY: 59 people per sq. mile
RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 80%, other and nonreligious 20% ETHNIC MIX: Mixed and European 90%, other Amerindian 9%, Mapuche 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Chilean peso = 100 centavos
192
ASIA
China Covering a vast area of eastern Asia, China is bordered by 14 countries. A one-party Communist state since 1949, it has recently become a dominant force in global manufacturing.
GEOGRAPHY A land of huge physical diversity, China has a long Pacific coastline to the east. Two-thirds of the country is uplands. The southwestern mountains include Tibet, the world’s highest plateau; in the northwest, the Tien Shan Mountains separate the arid Tarim and Dzungarian basins. The rolling hills and plains of the low-lying east are home to two-thirds of the population. CLIMATE China is divided into two main climatic regions. The north and west are semiarid or arid, with extreme temperature variations. The south and east are warmer and more humid, with year-round rainfall. Winter temperatures vary with latitude, but are warmest on the subtropical southeast coast. Summer temperatures are more uniform, rising above 70°F (21°C).
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: People’s Rep. of China DATE OF FORMATION: 960 CAPITAL: Beijing POPULATION: 1.35 billion TOTAL AREA: 3,705,386 sq. miles
(9,596,960 sq. km) DENSITY: 374 people per sq. mile
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most people are Han Chinese. The rest of the population belong to one of 55 minority nationalities, or recognized ethnic groups. Many of these groups have a disproportionate political significance as they live in strategic border areas. A policy of resettling Han Chinese in remote regions is deeply resented and has led to uprisings in Xinjiang and Tibet. The government has relaxed the one-child family policy, particularly for minorities, after some small groups were brought close to extinction. Chinese society is patriarchal in practice, and generations tend to live together. However, economic change is breaking down the social controls of the Mao Zedong era. Divorce and unemployment are rising; materialism has replaced the puritanism of the past. A resurgence of religious belief has occurred in recent years.
LANGUAGES: Mandarin*, other RELIGIONS: Nonreligious 59%, traditional
beliefs 20%, other 13%, Buddhist 6%, Muslim 2% ETHNIC MIX: Han 92%, other 4%, Hui 1%, Miao 1%, Manchu 1%, Zhuang 1% GOVERNMENT: One-party state CURRENCY: Yuan = 10 jiao = 100 fen
ASIA
THE ECONOMY China has shifted from a centrally planned to a market-oriented economy; liberalization has gone furthest in the south where the emerging business class is based. The Tenth Five-Year Plan (2001–2005) emphasized rapid development; the Eleventh Plan aims to reduce wealth disparities. Exports led sustained GDP growth from 2003; China has become the world’s third-largest
193
economy. Faced with a global downturn from 2008, Chinese stimulus packages have boosted domestic spending. The buying power of China’s huge market for raw materials and consumer goods could drive global recovery. INSIGHT: China has the world’s oldest continuous civilization. Its recorded history began 4000 years ago, with the Shang dynasty Amur
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4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
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C h ina Sea
0 0
400 km 400 miles
194
SOUTH AMERICA
Colombia Lying in northwest South America, Colombia has coastlines on both the Caribbean and the Pacific. It is primarily noted for its coffee, emeralds, gold, and cocaine trafficking.
ta
s
OCEAN
Or
A
eg r o
n
FIC
d
e
i n o co
(1,138,910 sq. km) DENSITY: 114 people per sq. mile
BRAZIL
á
o
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Colombia DATE OF FORMATION: 1819 CAPITAL: Bogotá POPULATION: 45.7 million TOTAL AREA: 439,733 sq. miles
PERU 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft Sea Level
Equator
uet
ay
FACTFILE
C aq
tu m
INSIGHT: Over 50% of the world’s cocaine is produced in Colombia
ECUADOR
Pu
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most Colombians are of mixed blood. Blacks and Amerindians have the least political representation. Civil conflict over four and a half decades has displaced millions of people, and left over 200,000 dead. The fighting is deeply entwined with the narcotics trade. Violent crime is common.
Caribbean Sea Santa Marta Valledupar Barranquilla Cartagena Sincelejo Montería Cúcuta PANAMA VENEZUELA Bucaramanga Medellín Me Manizales BOGOTÁ Armenia Villavicencio Cali N Neiva Popayán Pasto CI
CLIMATE Coastal plains are hot and wet. The highlands are much cooler. The equatorial east has two wet seasons.
THE ECONOMY Healthy and diversified export sector – includes coffee and coal. Considerable growth potential, but drugs-related violence and corruption deter foreign investors.
PA
GEOGRAPHY The densely forested and almost uninhabited east is separated from the western coastal plains by the Andes, which divide into three ranges (cordilleras) with intervening valleys.
0 0
200 km 200 miles
LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Wayuu, Páez, other Amerindian languages RELIGIONS: Catholic 95%, other 5% ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 58%, White 20%, European-African 14%, African 4%, AfricanAmerindian 3%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Col. peso = 100 centavos
AFRICA
Comoros
195
Off the east African coast, between Mozambique and Madagascar, lies the archipelago republic of the Comoros, comprising three main islands and a number of smaller islets. GEOGRAPHY Main islands are of volcanic origin and are heavily forested. The remainder are coral atolls. CLIMATE Hot and humid all year round, especially on the coasts. November to May is hottest and wettest period. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The Comoros has absorbed a diversity of people over the years, including Africans, Arabs, Polynesians, and Persians. There have also been Portuguese, Dutch, French, and Indian immigrants. Ethnic discord is rare, but regional tensions between islands are marked. The country is politically unstable and there have been frequent coups. A fragile new federal system has been in place since 2002. Wealth is concentrated within a political and business elite.
THE ECONOMY One of the world’s poorest countries. Subsistence-level farming. Vanilla and cloves are main cash crops. Lack of basic infrastructure. INSIGHT: The Comoros is the world’s largest producer of ylang-ylang – an extract from tree blossom used in manufacturing perfumes Grande Comore (Njazidja)
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Koimbani
MORONI Foumbouni Dembéni
INDIAN OCEAN
Mohéli (Mwali)
Mozambique Channel
0
Ouani Moutsamudou
Fomboni
20 km
0
20 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Arabic*, Comoran*,
OFFICIAL NAME: Union of the Comoros DATE OF FORMATION: 1975 CAPITAL: Moroni POPULATION: 676,000 TOTAL AREA: 838 sq. miles
French*
(2170 sq. km) DENSITY: 785 people per sq. mile
Moya Anjouan (Nzwani)
RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 98%, Roman Catholic 1%, other 1% ETHNIC MIX: Comoran 97%, other 3% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Comoros franc = 100 centimes
196
AFRICA
Congo Astride the equator in west-central Africa, this former French colony emerged from 20 years of Marxist-Leninist rule in 1990. Democracy was soon overshadowed by years of violence.
C. A. R.
200 km CAMEROON
Ouésso
500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
gh
a
Owando o
Equator
GABON
Mossendjo Loudima ATLANTIC OCEAN
Pointe-Noire
Nkayi
Djambala DEM. REP. CONGO
BRAZZAVILLE
Kinkala ANGOLA (Cabinda)
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Kongo, Teke, Lingala,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of the Congo DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Brazzaville POPULATION: 3.68 million TOTAL AREA: 132,046 sq. miles
French*
(342,000 sq. km) DENSITY: 28 people per sq. mile
n gi
200 miles
Ub a
0 0
San
PEOPLE & SOCIETY One of the most tribally conscious and heavily urbanized countries in Africa, with most people living in the Brazzaville–Pointe-Noire region. Main tensions are between the Bakongo in the north and the Mbochi in the south. Relative peace was secured in 1999, and “ninja” rebels in the Pool region, around Brazzaville, signed a peace deal in 2003.
INSIGHT: In 1970, Congo became the first African country to declare itself a communist state
ng
CLIMATE Hot, tropical. Temperatures rarely fall below 86°F (30°C). Two wet and two dry seasons. Rainfall is heaviest south of the equator.
THE ECONOMY Oil provides over 95% of export revenue. Timber is extracted. Foreign debt high. Substantial industrial base around Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.
Co
GEOGRAPHY Mostly forest- or savannacovered plateaus, drained by the Ubangi and Congo river systems. Narrow coastal plain is lined with sand dunes and lagoons.
RELIGIONS: Traditional 50%, Catholic 25%,
Protestant 23%, Muslim 2% ETHNIC MIX: Bakongo 51%, Teke 17%,
other 16%, Mbochi 11%, Mbédé 5% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
AFRICA
Congo, (DRC)
197
Lying in east-central Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of Africa’s largest countries, and the scene of one of its worst regional wars. GEOGRAPHY Rainforested basin of Congo River occupies 60% of the land area. High mountain ranges and lakes stretch down the eastern border. CLIMATE Tropical and humid. Distinct wet and dry seasons south of the equator. The north is mainly wet.
THE ECONOMY Rich resource base: minerals (copper, coltan, cobalt, diamonds) dominate export earnings. War and decades of corruption have caused economic collapse. Food aid is needed to ease humanitarian crisis. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Kinshasa POPULATION: 66 million TOTAL AREA: 905,563 sq. miles
(2,345,410 sq. km)
o Co ng
Kikwit
RWANDA
Bukavu
Ilebo Kananga
UGANDA
Goma
aba
of the Congo
Matadi
Lual
OFFICIAL NAME: Democratic Republic
Congo Basin
KINSHASA
Kalemie
BURUNDI TANZANIA Lake
Mbuji-Mayi Tanganyika ANGOLA
K a sai
FACTFILE
ANGOLA (Cabinda) IC ANT ATL EAN OC
INSIGHT: The DRC’s rainforests comprise 6% of the world’s, and 50% of Africa’s, remaining woodlands
CONGO
Kisangani
Mbandaka
Equator
Lake Albert
Isiro
Bumba
PEOPLE & SOCIETY There are 12 main ethnic groups and around 190 smaller ones. The indigenous forest pygmies, victimized in the war, are now a marginalized group. Civil war from 1996 drew neighboring countries into a bloody conflict. Tentative peace in 2003 was soon undermined by rebels in the east.
SUDAN
U b a n gi
Kamina Likasi
ZAMBIA Lubumbashi ZAMBIA
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0 0
200 km 200 miles
DENSITY: 75 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Kiswahili, Tshiluba, French* RELIGIONS: Christian 70%, Kimbanguist 10%,
traditional beliefs 10%, Muslim 10% ETHNIC MIX: Other 55%, Mongo, Luba, Kongo, and Mangbetu-Azande 45% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Congolese franc = 100 centimes
198
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Costa Rica Costa Rica, Central America’s most stable country, is rich in pristine scenery and exotic wildlife. Its neutrality in foreign affairs is long-standing, but it has strong ties with the US.
GEOGRAPHY Coastal plains of swamp and savanna rise to a fertile central plateau, which leads to a mountain range with active volcanic peaks. CLIMATE Hot and humid in coastal regions. Temperate central uplands. High annual rainfall.
THE ECONOMY Stability has attracted multinationals. The main exports are bananas, pineapples, coffee, and beef, but all are vulnerable to fluctuating world prices. History of high inflation. Pioneer of eco-tourism. Pledged to be carbon neutral by 2021. 0
50 km
0
50 miles
NICARAGUA
INSIGHT: Costa Rica’s 1949 constitution bans a national army
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Costa Rica DATE OF FORMATION: 1838 CAPITAL: San José POPULATION: 4.58 million TOTAL AREA: 19,730 sq. miles
(51,100 sq. km) DENSITY: 232 people per sq. mile
Sa
n Juan
Liberia
Caribbean Sea
Quesada
San Ramón Puntarenas
Heredia Turrialba Limón Cartago
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
o Ta rd i la ll e m ra an ca
PA
San Isidro PACIFIC OCEAN
A
SAN JOSÉ
NAM
Cañas
C de
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most people are mestizo, of partly Spanish origin. There is a black, Englishspeaking minority and around 35,000 indigenous Amerindians. Plantation owners are the wealthiest group, while one in six people live in poverty. Nonetheless, living standards are high for the region, and education and healthcare provision is good.
Península de Osa
LANGUAGES: Spanish*, English Creole, Bribri, Cabecar RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 76%, other (including Protestant) 24% ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo and European 96%, Black 2%, Chinese 1%, Amerindian 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: C.R. colón = 100 céntimos
AFRICA
Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
199
One of the larger nations along the coast of west Africa, Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s biggest cocoa producer. An image of stability was rocked by civil war in 2002–2005. GEOGRAPHY Sandy coastal strip backed by a largely rainforested interior, and a savanna plateau in the north.
THE ECONOMY Main crops are cocoa and coffee. Oil is now major export. Good infrastructure. Lack of professional training. Instability deters investment.
CLIMATE High temperatures all year round. South has two wet seasons; north has one, with lower rainfall.
M A LI BU RKI NA
Odienné Korhogo
PEOPLE & SOCIETY There are over 60 tribes; the largest is the Baoulé (an Akan group). Southern Christians harbor resentment against non-Ivorian Muslims in the north. Plantations employ millions of migrant workers (including children), though thousands fled back to Burkina during the civil war. Rebels joined a transitional government in 2007.
G U IN EA
Bouaké
Lac de
Man Kossou Guiglo
Daloa
Abengourou
YAMOUSSOUKRO Dimbokro
GHANA
Gagnoa
LIBERIA
San Pédro
Divo
Abidjan
Ivor
y Coast
Grand-Bassam
G ulf o f G uinea
ATLANTIC OCEAN
INSIGHT: The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro is the largest church in the world
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Akan, French*, Krou,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Côte d’Ivoire DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Yamoussoukro POPULATION: 21.1 million TOTAL AREA: 124,502 sq. miles
other
(322,460 sq. km) DENSITY: 172 people per sq. mile
100 km
0
RELIGIONS: Muslim 38%, Christian 31%, traditional beliefs 25%, other 6% ETHNIC MIX: Akan 42%, Voltaïque 18%, Mandé du Nord 17%, Krou 11%, other 12% GOVERNMENT: Transitional regime CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
100 miles
200
EUROPE
Croatia Though it was controlled by Hungary from medieval times and was a part of the Yugoslav state for much of the 20th century, Croatia has a very strong national identity.
n
D
Da
Vukovar Slavonski Brod BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Pula Zadar
BIA SER ube
Is
i
lp s
m Split a t i
Adriatic Sea
A
l
c
(56,542 sq. km) DENSITY: 202 people per sq. mile
va
SLOVENIA ZAGREB Virovitica Karlovac Osijek S K up a Sa l a v o n i a Rijeka va
ri
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Croatia DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Zagreb POPULATION: 4.42 million TOTAL AREA: 21,831 sq. miles
Âakovec Varaªdin D r HUNGARY Koprivnica a
na
FACTFILE
50 miles
a
INSIGHT: Croatia only regained control of Serb-occupied Eastern Slavonia, around Vukovar, in 1998
50 km
D
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Croats are distinguished from Bosniaks and Serbs by their Roman Catholic faith and use of the Latin alphabet. Many Serbs fled Croatia during the early 1990s conflict that accompanied Yugoslavia’s breakup. Minority rights and fighting organized crime are key issues in the quest for EU membership by 2011.
0 0
a
CLIMATE The interior has a temperate continental climate. Mediterranean climate along the Adriatic coast.
THE ECONOMY The war cost the economy an estimated $50 billion. Unemployment has been persistently high. Corruption deters foreign investment. Tourism is mainly on the Dalmatian coast.
tr
GEOGRAPHY Rocky, mountainous Adriatic coastline is dotted with islands. Interior is a mixture of wooded mountains and broad valleys.
a
Dubrovnik 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Croatian RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 88%,
other 7%, Orthodox Christian 4%, Muslim 1% ETHNIC MIX: Croat 90%, other 5%, Serb 5% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Kuna = 100 lipa
MON.
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
201
Cuba A former Spanish colony, Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. It became the only communist country in the Americas after Fidel Castro seized power in 1959. GEOGRAPHY Mostly fertile plains and basins. Three mountainous areas. Forests of pine and mahogany cover one-quarter of the country. CLIMATE Subtropical. Hot all year round, and very hot in summer. Heaviest rainfall in the mountains. Hurricanes can strike in the fall. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The Castro regime has reduced formerly extreme wealth disparities, given education a high priority, and established an efficient health service. Political dissent, however, is not tolerated. A dramatic fall in living standards since the late 1980s has led thousands of Cubans to flee to the US, to seek asylum. About 70% of Cubans are of Spanish descent. There is little ethnic tension.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Cuba DATE OF FORMATION: 1902 CAPITAL: Havana POPULATION: 11.2 million TOTAL AREA: 42,803 sq. miles
(110,860 sq. km) DENSITY: 262 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Sugar industry now superseded by tourism and nickel. US trade embargo, since 1961. Shortages drive a black market. Parallel use of US dollar (1993–2004), and then convertible peso, has boosted investment but created a “dollarized” elite. INSIGHT: Fidel Castro had become the world’s longest-serving nonhereditary ruler before handing power to his brother Raúl in 2006
HAVANA
of its St r a ri da Flo
ATLANTIC
Matanzas OCEAN Marianao Santa Clara Pinar Cienfuegos del Río Ciego de Avila Camagüey Archipiélago de los Canarreos
Caribbean Sea 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Holguín Bayamo Guantánamo Santiago de Cuba GUANTÁNAMO BAY (to USA)
0 100 km 0
LANGUAGES: Spanish RELIGIONS: Nonreligious 49%, Roman
Catholic 40%, atheist 6%, other 4%, Protestant 1% ETHNIC MIX: White 66%, European–African 22%, Black 12% GOVERNMENT: One-party state CURRENCY: Cuban peso = 100 centavos
100 miles
202
EUROPE
Cyprus Cyprus lies south of Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean. Since 1974, it has been partitioned between the Turkish-occupied north and the Greek-Cypriot south.
GEOGRAPHY Mountains in the center-west give way to a fertile plain in the east, flanked by hills to the northeast. CLIMATE Mediterranean. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are mild, with snow in the mountains. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The Greek majority practice Orthodox Christianity. Since the 16th century, a minority community of Turkish Muslims has lived in the north of the island. In 1974 Turkish troops occupied the north and proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), but it is recognized only by Turkey. Over 100,000 mainland Turks have settled there since. UN-led mediation failed to reunite the island ahead of EU accession in 2004, so the north was left out of membership.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Cyprus DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Nicosia POPULATION: 871,000 TOTAL AREA: 3571 sq. miles
(9250 sq. km) DENSITY: 244 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Financial services and tourism. Eurozone member with best economic performance and lowest unemployment in 2009 downturn. North suffers from lack of investment and lower wages. INSIGHT: The Green Line, which separates north from south, was opened for the first time in 2003 Mediterranean Sea
Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpason)
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (only recognized by Turkey)
Lapta (Lápithos)
Girne (Kerÿneia) Famagusta Bay Deêirmenlik (Kythréa) Gazimaêusa (Famagusta) NICOSIA
Güzelyurt (Mórfou)
Troodos Mts.
Páfos
Sovereign Base Area (to UK)
0 0
Lárnaka
Lemesós (Limassol) Akrotiri
Agia Nápa
Sovereign Base Area (to UK)
25 km 25 miles
Cease-fire line 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Greek*, Turkish* RELIGIONS: Orthodox Christian 78%,
Muslim 18%, other 4% ETHNIC MIX: Greek 81%, Turkish 11%,
other 8% GOVERNMENT: Presidential systems CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
(new Turkish lira in TRNC = 100 kurus)
EUROPE
203
Czech Republic Once part of Czechoslovakia, a central European communist state in 1948–1989, the Czech Republic peacefully dissolved its union with Slovakia in 1993. It joined the EU in 2004. GEOGRAPHY Landlocked in central Europe. Bohemia, the western territory, is a plateau surrounded by mountains. Moravia, in the east, is characterized by hills and lowlands. CLIMATE Cool, sometimes cold winters and warm summer months, which bring most of the annual rainfall.
THE ECONOMY Traditional heavy industries (machinery, iron, car-making) have been successfully privatized. Prague attracts tourists. Skilled workforce. Will join euro in 2013 at earliest. INSIGHT: Charles University in Prague was founded in the 13th century
GERMANY
OFFICIAL NAME: Czech Republic DATE OF FORMATION: 1993 CAPITAL: Prague POPULATION: 10.4 million TOTAL AREA: 30,450 sq. miles
(78,866 sq. km) DENSITY: 341 people per sq. mile
e
FACTFILE
Liberec Ústí nad Labem
Karlovy Vary Kladno
E lb
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Secular and urban society, with high divorce rates. Czechs make up the vast majority of the population, while the next largest group are Moravians. The 300,000 Slovaks left after partition are now permitted dual citizenship. Ethnic tensions are few, but there is widespread hostility toward the Roma minority. A new commercial elite is emerging alongside postcommunist entrepreneurs.
PRAGUE Plzeõ
Bo
he
m
ia
Âeské Budêjovice
POLAND Hradec Králové Pardubice Ostrava Olomouc Moravia
Brno AUSTRIA
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Havíüov Zlín
SLOVAKIA
0
50 km
0
LANGUAGES: Czech*, Slovak, Hungarian RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 39%,
atheist 38%, other 18%, Protestant 3%, Hussite 2% ETHNIC MIX: Czech 90%, other 4%, Moravian 4%, Slovak 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Czech koruna = 100 haleru
50 miles
204
EUROPE
Denmark Denmark occupies the Jutland peninsula and over 400 islands in southern Scandinavia. Greenland and the Faeroe Islands are self-governing associated territories.
GEOGRAPHY Fertile farmland covers two-thirds of the terrain, which is among the flattest in the world. About 100 islands are inhabited.
THE ECONOMY Natural gas and oil reserves. Skilled workforce key to high-tech industrial success. Pork, bacon, dairy products are exported. Opted not to join the euro, though its currency is pegged.
CLIMATE Damp, temperate climate with mild summers and cold, wet winters. Rainfall is moderate.
200m/656ft Sea Level
a Sk
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Income distribution is the most even in the West: society is egalitarian with few tensions. Cultural clashes have arisen with immigrant minorities. Almost all women now work and Denmark is a world leader in childcare provision. Marriage is becoming less common, even for couples with children.
Bornholm
g
r er
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Denmark DATE OF FORMATION: 950 CAPITAL: Copenhagen POPULATION: 5.47 million TOTAL AREA: 16,639 sq. miles
(43,094 sq. km) DENSITY: 334 people per sq. mile
Rønne Aalborg
J y l l a n d Viborg
Kattegat
Randers
Bal
tic
Se
a
Silkeborg Helsingør Århus Herning Horsens COPENHAGEN Vejle Roskilde Esbjerg Odense Kolding Sjælland Fyn North Svendborg Næstved Sea Sønderborg GERMANY
INSIGHT: Denmark is Europe’s oldest kingdom – the monarchy dates back to the 10th century
ak
0 0
L ollan d
Nykøbing Fa l st er
50 km 50 miles
LANGUAGES: Danish RELIGIONS: Evangelical Lutheran 89%,
other 10%, Roman Catholic 1% ETHNIC MIX: Danish 96%, other (including
Scandinavian and Turkish) 3%, Faeroese and Inuit 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Danish krone = 100 øre
AFRICA
205
Djibouti A city-state with a desert hinterland, Djibouti lies in northeast Africa on the Red Sea. Once known as the French Territory of the Afars and Issas, independence came in 1977. GEOGRAPHY Mainly low-lying desert and semidesert, with a volcanic mountain range in the north. CLIMATE Almost no rain, though the monsoon is very humid. The 109°F (45°C) heat of summer is unbearable.
INSIGHT: Chewing the leaves of the mildly narcotic qat shrub is an age-old social ritual in Djibouti 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Below Sea level
ERITREA
ETHIOPIA
Red Sea b el Ba
◊a√√a’to
eb Mand
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The main ethnic groups are the Issas in the south, and the nomadic Afars in the north. Tensions between them developed into a guerrilla war in 1991–1994. Smaller tribal groups make up the rest of the population, and the rural peoples are mostly nomadic. Wealth is concentrated in Djibouti city. France exerts considerable influence in Djibouti, supporting it financially and maintaining a naval base and a military garrison.
THE ECONOMY Djibouti’s major assets are its ports in a key Red Sea location.
Obock Tadjourah Gâlâfi
Lac ‘Assal
Go
l fe
T de
ad jo
DJIBOUTI
Goubétto
Damêrdjôg
Guélîlé
(not internationally recognized)
Lake Abhe
Mouloud
ura Gulf of Aden
SOMALILAND
ETHIOPIA
0
30 km
0
30 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Somali, Afar, French*,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Djibouti DATE OF FORMATION: 1977 CAPITAL: Djibouti POPULATION: 864,200 TOTAL AREA: 8494 sq. miles
Arabic* Christian 6%
(22,000 sq. km) DENSITY: 97 people per sq. mile
GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Djibouti franc = 100 centimes
RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 94%, ETHNIC MIX: Issa 60%, Afar 35%,
other 5%
206
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Dominica Dominica is renowned as the Caribbean island that resisted European colonization until the 18th century. It achieved independence from the UK in 1978.
GEOGRAPHY Mountainous and densely forested. Volcanic activity has given the land very fertile soils, hot springs, geysers, and black sand beaches. CLIMATE Tropical, cooled by constant trade winds. Heavy annual rainfall. Tropical depressions and hurricanes are likely June–November. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The majority of Dominicans are descendants of African slaves brought over to work on banana plantations. The Carib Territory on the northeast of the island is home to the only surviving indigenous community in the Caribbean. Wealth disparities are not as marked as elsewhere in the region, but the alleviation of poverty has become a major plank of government policy.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Commonwealth of
THE ECONOMY Based on bananas, but has lost preferential access to EU market. Some diversification: flowers, coffee, fruit. Agriculture vulnerable to hurricanes. Eco-tourism. Some offshore banking. INSIGHT: Dominica is known as “Nature Island,” due to its spectacular flora and fauna assage ca P in i om D Portsmouth Prince Rupert Bay
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Marigot
Northern Forest Reserve
Caribbean Sea
Mahaut
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Canefield Airport
ROSEAU Martinique Passage
0
10 km
0
LANGUAGES: French Creole, English* RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 77%,
Dominica
Protestant 15%, other 8%
DATE OF FORMATION: 1978 CAPITAL: Roseau POPULATION: 70,400 TOTAL AREA: 291 sq. miles (754 sq. km) DENSITY: 243 people per sq. mile
ETHNIC MIX: Black 87%, Mixed race 9%,
Carib 3%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: East Caribbean dollar = 100 cents
10 miles
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
207
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern twothirds of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. Spanishspeaking, it seeks closer ties to the anglophone West Indies. GEOGRAPHY Highlands and rainforested mountains – including the highest peak in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte – interspersed with fertile valleys. Extensive coastal plain in the east.
THE ECONOMY Mining (nickel and gold), sugar, and textiles. Tourism, remittances, and exports all rely heavily on US market. Hidden economy based on transshipment of narcotics to the US.
CLIMATE Hot and humid close to sea level, cooler at altitude. Heavy rainfall, especially in the northeast.
INSIGHT: Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the Americas. It was founded in 1496 by the brother of Christopher Columbus
PEOPLE & SOCIETY White landowners – especially those descended from the original Spanish settlers – form the wealthy elite. Mixed-race majority controls commerce and forms the bulk of the professional middle classes. White and mixed-race women are entering the professions. Great disparities of wealth exist; the black and Haitian-immigrant populations occupy the bottom of the social ladder.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Dominican Republic DATE OF FORMATION: 1865 CAPITAL: Santo Domingo POPULATION: 10.1 million TOTAL AREA: 18,679 sq. miles
(48,380 sq. km) DENSITY: 540 people per sq. mile
Monte Cristi
Puerto Plata Mao
Santiago
ATLANTIC OCEAN
San Francisco Pico Duarte de Macorís HAITI C10, 417ft (3175m) u La Vega ord i ll e r
San Juan
Lago Enriquillo
a C en tr al
El Seibo
SANTO DOMINGO
San Cristóbal
La Romana
San Pedro de Macorís
Barahona Caribbean Sea
0 0
50 km 50 miles
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Spanish*, French Creole RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 92%, other
and nonreligious 8% ETHNIC MIX: Mixed race 75%, White 15%, Black 10% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Dominican Republic peso = 100 centavos
208
ASIA
East Timor East Timor occupies the once Portuguese-owned eastern half of the island of Timor. Invaded by Indonesia in 1975, it became independent in 2002 following a long struggle.
l at
R g an
FACTFILE
Se
Pulau Wetar
om
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The population is almost entirely Roman Catholic. The Timorese are a mix of Malay and Papuan peoples, and many indigenous Papuan tribes survive. There is an urban Chinese minority, and ethnic Indonesian settlers became numerous after annexation in 1975. Preindependence violence in 1999 was politically rather than ethnically motivated. Women do not have access to the professions and levels of domestic violence are notably high. Living standards are low.
INSIGHT: Once dependent on sandalwood, the economy is being transformed by oil under the Timor Sea
Pulau Alor Ataúro
it
CLIMATE Tropical. Heavy rain in wet season (December–March), then dry and hot, particularly in the north.
THE ECONOMY Widespread poverty. Violence in 1999 damaged infrastructure. Riots in 2006 undermined stability, further deterring foreign investment. Agreement with Australia on division of oil revenue from the Timor Sea.
ra
GEOGRAPHY A narrow coastal plain gives way to forested highlands. The mountain backbone rises to 9715 ft (2963 m).
Pulau Pantar O m b (part of Pante East Macassar Timor)
St ai
Ti m or
0
100 km
0
100 miles
DILI
Wet
ait ar Str
Lospalos Tutuala Manatuto
Maliana Suai
o r T i m
S
e
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
OFFICIAL NAME: Democratic Republic
DENSITY: 201 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Tetum*, Bahasa Indonesia,
of Timor-Leste
Portuguese*
DATE OF FORMATION: 2002 CAPITAL: Dili POPULATION: 1.13 million TOTAL AREA: 5756 sq. miles
RELIGIONS: Catholic 95%, other 5% ETHNIC MIX: Malay/Papuan groups c. 85%,
(14,874 sq. km)
a
Indonesian c. 13%, Chinese 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: US dollar = 100 cents
SOUTH AMERICA
209
Ecuador Once part of the Inca heartland, Ecuador lies on the western coast of South America. Its territory includes the fascinating Galápagos Islands, 610 miles (970 km) to the west.
INSIGHT: Darwin's study on the Galápagos Islands in 1856 played a major part in his theory of evolution
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Ecuador DATE OF FORMATION: 1830 CAPITAL: Quito POPULATION: 13.6 million TOTAL AREA: 109,483 sq. miles
(283,560 sq. km) DENSITY: 127 people per sq. mile
100 miles
COLOMBIA
Esmeraldas
Sa
nM
ig u e l
s
Ibarra Equator
QUITO
N ap o
e
Santo Domingo de los Colorados Manta Portoviejo Riobamba Guayaquil
100 km
Ambato
d
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most people are of Amerindian– Spanish extraction (mestizo). Black communities exist on the coast. The strong and largely unified Amerindian movement leads the pressure for social reform; one in eight people live in extreme poverty. Recent left-wing policies have given greater rights to women, the poor, and Amerindians.
0 0
PA C I F I C OCEAN
Milagro
n
CLIMATE The climate is hot and moist on the coast, cool in the Andes, and hot equatorial in the Amazon basin.
THE ECONOMY Oil provides half of export earnings. World’s biggest banana exporter. US dollar offers stability, but less control. Defaulted on debt in 2008, prioritizing social spending.
Gulf of Guayaquil
Cuenca Machala
A
GEOGRAPHY Broad coastal plain, inter-Andean central highlands, dense jungle in upper Amazon basin.
Loja
PERU
4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Quechua, other Amerindian languages RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 93%; Protestant, Jewish, and other 7% ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 55%, Amerindian 25%, White 10%, Black 10% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: US dollar = 100 cents
210
AFRICA
Egypt Occupying the northeast corner of Africa, Egypt is divided by the highly fertile Nile Valley. Its essentially pro-Western, militarybacked regime is being challenged by Islamic fundamentalists. THE ECONOMY Oil and gas. Cotton. Tolls from the Suez Canal. Successful tourist industry, in spite of terrorist attacks. High birth-rate and rural poverty.
CLIMATE Summers are very hot, but winters are cooler. Rainfall is negligible, except on the coast.
Bur Sá’íd ISRAEL Al Ismá‘ílíya
CAIRO Munkhafaç al Qaœœára
LIBYA
Al Jízah Al Minyá
Suez Canal
As Suways
JORDAN
Sinai
Hurghada
Asyú√ Sawháj
Qiná
d
Al Uq§ur
a
L i b y a n D e s e r t
Se
INSIGHT: In 450 BCE Herodotus visited the already-ancient pyramids
Nile Delta
Al Iskandaríyah
Re
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Despite a long tradition of ethnic and religious tolerance, the rise of Islam has sparked clashes between Muslims and Copts (Coptic Christianity is one of the Church’s earliest branches). Women play a full part in education and the economy, though this is threatened by Islamism. Rapidly growing population is a problem. Poverty is rife around Cairo.
Mediterranean Sea
N il e
GEOGRAPHY Fertile Nile Valley separates arid Libyan Desert from smaller semiarid eastern desert. Sinai peninsula has mountains in south.
Aswán Administrative border
Lake Nasser
SUDAN
Political border
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Below Sea Level
0
200 km
0
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Arabic*, French, English,
OFFICIAL NAME: Arab Republic of Egypt DATE OF FORMATION: 1936 CAPITAL: Cairo POPULATION: 83 million TOTAL AREA: 386,660 sq. miles
Berber
(1,001,450 sq. km) DENSITY: 216 people per sq. mile
200 miles
RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 94%,
Coptic Christian and other 6% ETHNIC MIX: Egyptian 99%, other (Nubian,
Armenian, Greek, Berber) 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Egyptian pound = 100 piastres
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
211
El Salvador El Salvador is Central America’s smallest and most densely populated country. Already struggling to recover from a civil war in the 1980s, it was badly struck by earthquakes in 2001.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of El Salvador DATE OF FORMATION: 1841 CAPITAL: San Salvador POPULATION: 6.16 million TOTAL AREA: 8124 sq. miles
(21,040 sq. km) DENSITY: 770 people per sq. mile
GUATEMALA
Metapán
Santa Ana Le mpa
HONDURAS Chalatenango Lem
Embalse
pa
Ahuachapán Cerrón Grande Sonsonate SAN
Sensuntepeque San Vicente
SALVADOR Zacatecoluca
San Miguel La Unión
a
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Population is largely mestizo; ethnic tensions are few. The 1981–1991 civil war was fought between the US-backed right-wing government and left-wing FMLN guerrillas, over gross economic disparities, which still exist despite some reform. During the war, 75,000 people died, many of whom were unarmed civilians, and human rights abuses were widespread. The FMLN won the presidency in 2009.
INSIGHT: Independent since 1841, El Salvador is named after Jesus Christ, “the savior” of Christians
mp
CLIMATE Tropical coastal belt is very hot, with seasonal rains. Cooler, temperate climate in highlands.
THE ECONOMY Coffee, sugar. Garment industry. Remittances from overseas. Frequent natural disasters damage infrastructure and homes and deepen country’s reliance on aid. Five-year anti-poverty program for north from 2007.
Le
GEOGRAPHY El Salvador is a narrow coastal belt backed by two mountain ranges. There is a central plateau. The country is located within a seismic zone, and there are more than 20 volcanic peaks.
Usulután
PACIFIC OCEAN 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0 0
25 km 25 miles
LANGUAGES: Spanish RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 80%,
Evangelical 18%, other 2% ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 94%, Amerindian 5%, White 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Salvadorean colón = 100 centavos; US dollar = 100 cents
212
AFRICA
Equatorial Guinea Comprising the mainland territory of Río Muni and five islands on the west coast of central Africa, Equatorial Guinea, despite its name, lies just north of the equator.
GEOGRAPHY The islands are mountainous and volcanic. The mainland is lower, with mangrove swamps along the coast. CLIMATE The island of Bioko is extremely wet and humid. The mainland is only marginally drier and cooler. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Equatorial Guinea is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa. Río Muni is sparsely populated and most people there are Fang, an ethnic group also found in Cameroon and northern Gabon. Bioko is populated by Bubi and a minority of Creoles known as Fernandinos. Tensions between the two territories have been reignited by the discovery of oil off Bioko. Wealth is concentrated in the ruling clan; oil revenue in the last decade has made little impact on most people.
FACTFILE
THE ECONOMY Oil and gas now account for 97% of exports; the government has promised to reinvest the new funds in development. Timber, cocoa, coffee. INSIGHT: In 2003, state radio declared President Obiang Nguema to be “like God in Heaven” MALABO
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Isla da Bioco Bight of Biafra
CAMEROON
ATLANTIC OCEAN Gulf of Guinea
Micomeseng Bata
Niefang Mongomo
Mbini
R M
Cabo San Juan
í u
Uolo
o n
i
Etembue Cogo Isla de Corisco
Nsoc GABON
0 0
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Equatorial
DENSITY: 62 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Fang, Bubi,
Guinea
French*
DATE OF FORMATION: 1968 CAPITAL: Malabo POPULATION: 676,300 TOTAL AREA: 10,830 sq. miles
RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 90%,
(28,051 sq. km)
40 km 40 miles
other 10% ETHNIC MIX: Fang 85%, other 11%, Bubi 4% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
AFRICA
Eritrea
213
Lying along the southwest shore of the Red Sea, Eritrea won a long war for independence from Ethiopia in 1993. The two neighbors fought a bitter border war in 1998–2000. GEOGRAPHY Mostly consists of rugged mountains, bush, and the Danakil Desert, which falls below sea level. CLIMATE Warm in the mountains; desert areas are hot. Droughts from July onward are common.
THE ECONOMY Legacy of disruption and destruction from wars; resettlement of refugees. Susceptible to drought and famine: dependent on food aid. Most of the population live at subsistence level. Potential for extraction of gold, copper, and oil. Red Sea location: port at Massawa. 0
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: State of Eritrea DATE OF FORMATION: 1993 CAPITAL: Asmara POPULATION: 5.07 million TOTAL AREA: 46,842 sq. miles
(121,320 sq. km) DENSITY: 112 people per sq. mile
100 km
0
Kerora
100 miles
Red Sea Dahlak Archipelago
Ak’ordat
Keren
Mîts’íwa (Massawa)
ASMARA
Barentu
Adi Ugri
Teseney
ETHIOPIA
Suwa D
Red Sea
an
il
INSIGHT: Eritrea is the only country to secede successfully in postcolonial Africa
SUDAN
ak
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Tigrinya-speakers, mainly Orthodox Christians, are the most numerous of nine main ethnic groups. A strong sense of nationhood has been forged by war. Women played a vital role in combat. Over 80% of people are subsistence farmers. Multiparty elections, expected since 1997, have been persistently postponed.
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Below Sea Level
‘Aseb DJIBOUTI
LANGUAGES: Tigrinya*, English*, Tigre, Afar, Arabic*, Bilen, Kunama, other RELIGIONS: Christian 45%, Muslim 45%, other 10% ETHNIC MIX: Tigray 50%, Tigre 31%, other 9%, Saho 5%, Afar 5% GOVERNMENT: Transitional regime CURRENCY: Nakfa = 100 cents
214
EUROPE
Estonia The smallest and most Western-oriented of the former Soviet-ruled Baltic states, Estonia is also the most developed, but its standard of living is well below the EU average.
GEOGRAPHY Estonia’s terrain is flat, boggy, and partly forested, with over 1500 islands. Lake Peipus forms much of the eastern border with Russia. CLIMATE Maritime, with some continental extremes. Harsh winters, with cool summers and damp springs. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Estonians are related ethnically and linguistically to the Finns. Friction between ethnic Estonians and the large Russian minority led to a reassertion of Estonian culture and language. Outright discrimination against the Russian language was only ended in 2000. Estonians are predominantly Lutheran. Families are small and divorce rates are high. Market reforms have increased prosperity; a few people have become very rich.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Estonia DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Tallinn POPULATION: 1.34 million TOTAL AREA: 17,462 sq. miles
(45,226 sq. km) DENSITY: 77 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Timber and oil shale. Currency pegged to euro: hopes to join in 2011. Good productivity. Strong growth accompanied EU accession, but first EU country to enter recession in 2008. INSIGHT: Estonia pioneered online voting in 2007, and plans voting by cell phone in 2011
Gulf of Finland
TALLINN Baltic Sea
KohtlaJärve
Rakvere
Haapsalu
Hiiumaa
Pärnu Saaremaa Gulf of Riga
Lake Peipus RUSS.
Paide
FED.
Tartu
Viljandi
Võrtsjärv Lake Pskov
Valga LATVIA
200m/656ft Sea Level
Narva
Tapa
0
Võru
50 km
0
LANGUAGES: Estonian*, Russian RELIGIONS: Evangelical Lutheran 56%,
Orthodox Christian 25%, other 19% ETHNIC MIX: Estonian 68%, Russian 26%, other 4%, Ukrainian 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Kroon = 100 senti
50 miles
AFRICA
Ethiopia
215
The former empire of Ethiopia once dominated northeast Africa. A Marxist regime in 1974–1991, now a free-market democracy, it has suffered economic, civil, and natural crises.
CLIMATE Moderate, with summer rains. Highlands are warm, with night frost and snowfalls on the mountains.
INSIGHT: King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba are said to have founded the Kingdom of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) c. 1000 BCE
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia DATE OF FORMATION: 1896 CAPITAL: Addis Ababa POPULATION: 82.8 million TOTAL AREA: 435,184 sq. miles
(1,127,127 sq. km)
0 0
4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Below Sea Level
200 km 200 miles
Re
ERITREA Mek’elé Gonder Bahir Dar Blue Nile
SUDAN
n D aD e s
PEOPLE & SOCIETY 76 Ethiopian nationalities speak 286 languages. Oromo (or Gallas) are the largest group. Ethnic representation is a major political issue. Orthodox Christianity has a very ancient history in Ethiopia. Former emperor Haile Selassie inspired Rastafarianism.
THE ECONOMY Overwhelmingly dependent on agriculture; coffee is main export crop. War-damaged infrastructure and periodic serious droughts and famines undermine growth. There is a heavy reliance on food aid. Landlocked since secession of Eritrea.
d
a er k i l t
Se
a Gulf of Aden
DJIBOUTI
Desé
Ethiopian Diré Dawa ADDIS SOMALILAND ABABA Hárer (not internationally Highlands recognized) Nazrét Gr e a Va l t Ri ley ft
GEOGRAPHY Great Rift Valley divides mountainous northwest region from desert lowlands in northeast and southeast. Ethiopian Plateau is drained mainly by the Blue Nile.
Jíma
L. Turkana
Ogaden
SOMALIA
KENYA
DENSITY: 193 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Amharic*, Tigrinya, other RELIGIONS: Orthodox Christian 40%,
Muslim 40%, traditional 15%, other 5% ETHNIC MIX: Oromo 32%, Amhara 30%, other 26%, Tigray 6%, Somali 6% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Ethiopian birr = 100 cents
216
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
Fiji A volcanic archipelago in the South Pacific, with two large islands and 880 islets. Tensions between native Fijians and the Indian minority have sparked a succession of coups.
GEOGRAPHY Main islands are mountainous, fringed by coral reefs. Remainder are limestone and coral formations. CLIMATE Tropical. High temperatures all year round. Cyclones are a hazard.
THE ECONOMY Tourism was main sector, though damaged by instability. Coups have also caused international isolation. All sectors struggling: sugar production, gold mining, textiles, timber, and commercial fishing. 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft Sea Level PACIFIC
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The British introduced workers from India in the late 19th century, and by 1946 their descendants outnumbered the indigenous Fijian population. Ethnic-Fijian nationalism is strong. Many Indo-Fijians left after the 1987 coup, restoring ethnic Fijians to a majority. In 2000, the first Indiandominated government was ousted. The army led another coup in 2006. Women are lobbying for more rights. INSIGHT: Both Fijians and Indians practice fire-walking; Indians walk on hot embers, Fijians on heated stones
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of the Fiji Islands DATE OF FORMATION: 1970 CAPITAL: Suva POPULATION: 849,200 TOTAL AREA: 7054 sq. miles
(18,270 sq. km) DENSITY: 120 people per sq. mile
OCEAN
Yasawa Group
Labasa
Nabavatu
Vanua Levu
Nabouwalu Bligh Water
Rakiraki Lautoka Ovalau Viti Levu
SUVA
Sigatoka Kadavu
a Pass
ge
Koro
Taveuni
Koro Gau Se a
ge s sa Pa eba Lak Lau Group
Moala
Kadavu
PACIFIC OCEAN
0 0
100 km 100 miles
LANGUAGES: Fijian, English*, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu RELIGIONS: Hindu 38%, Methodist 37%, Catholic 9%, Muslim 8%, other 8% ETHNIC MIX: Melanesian (Fijian) 51%, Indian 44%, other 5% GOVERNMENT: Transitional regime CURRENCY: Fiji dollar = 100 cents
EUROPE
217
Finland Finland’s language and national identity have been influenced by both its Scandinavian and Russian neighbors. Once aligned with the USSR, Finland is now a member of the EU. GEOGRAPHY South and center are flat, with low hills and many lakes. Uplands and low mountains in the north. 60% of the land area is forested.
THE ECONOMY Strong engineering and electronics sectors: home of Nokia. Wood, pulp, and paper production. INSIGHT: Finland has Europe’s largest inland waterway system
CLIMATE Long, harsh winters with frequent snowfalls. Short, warmer summers. Rainfall is low, and decreases northward.
NORWAY
500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Inarijärvi
Lapland
PEOPLE & SOCIETY One in four of the population lives in the Greater Helsinki region. Swedish-speakers live mainly in the Åland Islands in the southwest. The Sámi (Lapps) lead a seminomadic existence inside the Arctic Circle. Women make up 48% of the labor force, continuing a long tradition of equality between the sexes. Families tend to be close-knit, though marriage is becoming less common.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Finland DATE OF FORMATION: 1917 CAPITAL: Helsinki POPULATION: 5.33 million TOTAL AREA: 130,127 sq. miles
(337,030 sq. km) DENSITY: 45 people per sq. mile
SWEDEN
RUSS. FED.
Arctic Circle
Rovaniemi 0 0
100 km
Oulu
100 miles G ulf of Bo thnia
Kuopio Joensuu
Vaasa Jyväskylä
Pori Åland
Haukivesi
Tampere
Saimaa
Lahti Kotka
Turku Espoo
HELSINKI
Baltic Sea
LANGUAGES: Finnish*, Swedish*, Sámi RELIGIONS: Evangelical Lutheran 89%,
other 9%, Orthodox Christian 1%, Roman Catholic 1% ETHNIC MIX: Finnish 93%, other (including Sámi) 7% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
218
EUROPE
France Stretching across western Europe, from the English Channel (la Manche) to the Mediterranean Sea, France was Europe’s first modern republic, and is still a leading industrial power.
CLIMATE Three main climates: temperate and damp northwest; continental east; and Mediterranean south. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Strong French national identity coexists with pronounced regional differences, including local languages. Immigration laws have been tightened since the 1970s, but ethnic minorities growing up in city suburbs feel increasingly alienated. New rules aim to bring more women into politics. INSIGHT: France is the most popular tourist destination in the world, with over 80 million visitors a year
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: French Republic DATE OF FORMATION: 987 CAPITAL: Paris POPULATION: 62.3 million TOTAL AREA: 211,208 sq. miles
(547,030 sq. km) DENSITY: 294 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Chemicals, electronics, heavy engineering, cars, and aircraft typify a strong and diversified export sector. World leader in cosmetics, perfumes, and quality wines. Modernized agriculture. E ng l i s h Ch a nne l
Calais Lille
BELGIUM Amiens LUX. Rouen GERMANY Reims Caen Strasbourg Versailles PARIS Brest Nancy Le Mans ne Rennes Orléans Mulhouse R hi Dijon Loire Tours Besançon Nantes SWITZ. L. Geneva ClermontBay Mâcon of Limoges Ferrand Lyon B i s c a y Cognac Massif Grenoble St.-Étienne s ITALY Central lp Bordeaux A Avignon Aix-enProvence MONACO Montpellier Biarritz Toulouse Nice P y r Cannes Marseille e n e e Toulon s Corse SPAIN Perpignan (Corsica) ANDORRA Me dite r r a nea n 3000m/9843ft Sea
Channel Is. Le Havre (to UK)
Rhône
GEOGRAPHY Broad plain covers northern half of the country. Tall mountain ranges in the east and southwest, with a mountainous plateau in the center.
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0
100 km
0
100 miles
LANGUAGES: French*, Provençal, other RELIGIONS: Catholic 88%, Muslim 8%,
Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Buddhist 1% ETHNIC MIX: French 90%, North African 6%,
German 2%, Breton 1%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Mixed presidential– parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
AFRICA
219
Gabon Gabon is a former French colony straddling the equator on Africa’s west coast. Independent since 1960, it returned to multiparty politics in 1990, after 22 years of one-party rule. GEOGRAPHY Low plateaus and mountains lie beyond the coastal strip. Two-thirds of the land is covered by rainforest. CLIMATE Hot and tropical, with little distinction between seasons. Cold Benguela current cools the coast.
THE ECONOMY Oil accounts for 80% of exports, but reserves are dwindling: not much post-oil planning. High debt problem. Tropical hardwoods and manganese. INSIGHT: Libreville was founded as a settlement for freed French slaves in 1849 CAMEROON
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Some 40 different languages are spoken. The Fang, who live mainly in the north, are the largest ethnic group, but have yet to gain control of the government. Oil wealth has led to the growth of an affluent middle class, but one in three people still lives in poverty. Menial jobs are done by immigrant workers. Education follows the French system. With 85% of people living in towns, Gabon is one of Africa’s most urbanized countries. The government is encouraging population growth.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Gabonese Republic DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Libreville POPULATION: 1.47 million TOTAL AREA: 103,346 sq. miles
(267,667 sq. km) DENSITY: 15 people per sq. mile
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Oyem
LIBREVILLE
CONGO
Makokou Equator
PortGentil O
Lambaréné
é goou
Koulamoutou
Moanda Franceville
Mouila Tchibanga CONGO ATLANTIC OCEAN
0 0
100 km 100 miles
500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Fang, French*, Punu, other RELIGIONS: Christian (mainly Roman Catholic)
55%, traditional beliefs 40%, other 4%, Muslim 1% ETHNIC MIX: Fang 26%, Shira-punu 24%, other 24%, foreign 15%, Nzabi-duma 11% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
220
AFRICA
Gambia Gambia is a riverbank state on the west coast of Africa, almost entirely surrounded by Senegal. It was renowned for its stability until its government was overthrown in a coup in 1994.
GEOGRAPHY Located on the narrow strip of land bordering the Gambia River. Long, sandy beaches are backed by mangrove swamps along the river. Savanna and tropical forests higher up. CLIMATE Subtropical, with wet, humid months July–October, and warm, dry season November–May.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of the Gambia DATE OF FORMATION: 1965 CAPITAL: Banjul POPULATION: 1.71 million TOTAL AREA: 4363 sq. miles
(11,300 sq. km) DENSITY: 442 people per sq. mile
INSIGHT: Overfishing in the waters off Gambia and Senegal, mainly by foreign vessels, is a growing problem
SENEGAL Bakau Serekunda
BANJUL
Brikama Gunjur
TIC AN ATL EAN OC
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Little tension between various ethnic groups. The largest group, the Mandinka, has traditionally held power. Islam is a strong social influence, though there is no official state religion. A small expatriate community from the UK lives on the coast. Seasonal migrants come from neighboring states to harvest groundnuts each year. Women are very active as traders.
THE ECONOMY Around 70% of the labor force is involved in agriculture. Groundnuts are the principal crop. Fish stocks are declining. Eco-tourism is promoted, though most visitors come for the beaches. Banjul is one of west Africa’s finest deepwater ports: significant re-export trade. Smuggling problems.
0 0
50 km 50 miles
Farafenni G am b i a
SENEGAL
Georgetown Basse Santa Su
200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Mandinka, Fulani, Wolof, Jola, Soninke, English* RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, traditional beliefs 1% ETHNIC MIX: Mandinka 40%, Fulani 19%, Wolof 15%, Jola 11%, Serahuli 9%, other 6% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Dalasi = 100 butut
ASIA
221
Georgia Located on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, Georgia has been torn by civil war and ethnic disputes since achieving independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. GEOGRAPHY Kura Valley lies between Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus range in south. Lowlands along the Black Sea coast. CLIMATE Subtropical along the coast, changing to continental extremes at high altitudes. Rainfall is moderate. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Paternalistic society, with strong family, cultural, and literary traditions. Georgia was converted to Christianity in 326 CE. Armenians in the south are the poorest group. Civil conflicts in the early 1990s against Abkhaz and Osset separatists displaced 300,000 people. Abkhazia and South Ossetia now effectively operate as separate states, backed up by Russian forces since the 2008 war. Russia opposes Georgian hopes of joining the EU and NATO.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Georgia DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Tbilisi POPULATION: 4.26 million TOTAL AREA: 26,911 sq. miles
(69,700 sq. km) DENSITY: 158 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Transit revenues from pipelines taking oil to the West. Long-established and booming wine industry. Political instability. Fast pace of reforms in late 2000s, at cost of high unemployment. INSIGHT: Western Georgia was the land of the legendary Golden Fleece of Greek mythology
C
a
Sokhumi Zugdidi Black P’ot’i Sea Bat’umi
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
u
c
Ku
s
TURKEY
u
Ts’khinvali Gori
ra
r C a u c as
s T’elavi
TBILISI
Akhalts’ikhe Lesse
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
a
K’ut’aisi Samtredia
us
ARMENIA
0
Rust’avi AZERBAIJAN
100 km
0
100 miles
LANGUAGES: Georgian*, Russian, other RELIGIONS: Georgian Orthodox 65%,
Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Orthodox 8%, other 6% ETHNIC MIX: Georgian 84%, Armenian 6%, Azeri 6%, Russian 2%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Lari = 100 tetri
222
EUROPE
Germany Europe’s strongest industrial power and its most populous nation, Germany was divided after military defeat in 1945 into a free-market west and a communist east, but reunified in 1990.
DATE OF FORMATION: 1871 CAPITAL: Berlin POPULATION: 82.2 million TOTAL AREA: 137,846 sq. miles
(357,021 sq. km)
Hannover
POLAND
Elb e
BERLIN
r
of Germany
NETHERLANDS
Lübeck
de
OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Republic
Hamburg Bremen
O
FACTFILE
Rostock
North Sea
Magdeburg Dortmund Duisburg Leipzig Kassel Essen Dresden Düsseldorf Köln Erfurt Chemnitz Bonn Frankfurt BELGIUM am Main CZECH LUX. Mannheim Nürnberg REPUBLIC i ne
INSIGHT: Germany’s rivers and canals carry as much freight as its busy highways
Baltic Sea
Kiel
Rh
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Regionalism is strong. The north is mainly Protestant, while the south is staunchly Roman Catholic. Social and economic differences still exist between east and west. Turks are the largest single ethnic minority; many came as guest workers in the 1950s–1970s. Immigration rules now favor skilled workers. Feminism is strong.
DENMARK
FRANCE
ne
CLIMATE Damp, temperate in northern and central regions. Continental extremes in mountainous south.
THE ECONOMY Major exporter of electronics, heavy engineering, chemicals, and cars. Worst recession for 60 years in 2008– 2009. Aging population.
R hi
GEOGRAPHY Central European coastal plains in the north, rising to rolling hills of central region and Alps in far south.
Dan
Stuttgart
SWITZ. B a v a r i a 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
ub
e
München
n A lp s AUSTRIA
0
100 km
0
DENSITY: 609 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: German*, Turkish RELIGIONS: Protestant 34%, Roman
Catholic 33%, other 30%, Muslim 3% ETHNIC MIX: German 92%, other 3%,
other European 3%, Turkish 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
100 miles
AFRICA
Ghana
223
The heartland of the ancient Ashanti kingdom, Ghana in west Africa was once known as the Gold Coast. It has experienced intermittent periods of military rule since independence in 1957.
CLIMATE Tropical. There are two wet seasons in the south, but the north is drier, and has just one.
THE ECONOMY World’s second-largest cocoa producer. Oil discovered in 2007: on stream in 2011. Hardwood trees such as maple and sapele. Gold mining. INSIGHT: Ghana was the first colony in west Africa to gain independence BURKINA
Wa
(238,540 sq. km) DENSITY: 268 people per sq. mile
100 km 100 miles
Tamale
Sunyani
Lake Volta
TOGO
Kumasi
Volt Koforidua Asamankese Tema Nsawam Cape Coast ACCRA st a o Sekondild C Takoradi G o Gulf of Guinea
a
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Ghana DATE OF FORMATION: 1957 CAPITAL: Accra POPULATION: 23.8 million TOTAL AREA: 92,100 sq. miles
0 0
Bolgatanga
ta
FACTFILE
CÔTE D’IVOIRE (IVORY COAST)
ol B la c k V
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Around 75 cultural-linguistic groups. The largest is the Akan, who include the Ashanti and Fanti peoples. Southern peoples are richer and more urban than those of the north. There are few tribal tensions. Family ties are strong. Women play a major role in market trading. The 2000 election saw Ghana’s first peaceful handover of power. Poverty levels have been significantly reduced.
White V olt a
GEOGRAPHY Mostly low-lying. The west is covered by rainforest. One of the world’s largest artificial lakes – Lake Volta – was created by damming the White Volta River.
ATLANTIC OCEAN
500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Twi, Fanti, Ewe, Ga, Adangbe, Gurma, Dagomba, English* RELIGIONS: Christian 69%, Muslim 16%, traditional beliefs 9%, other 6% ETHNIC MIX: Akan 49%, Mole-Dagbani 17%, Ewe 13%, other 13%, Ga 8% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Cedi = 100 pesewas
224
EUROPE
Greece The Balkan state of Greece is bounded on three sides by the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Ionian seas. It has a strong seafaring tradition, with some of the world’s richest shipowners.
GEOGRAPHY Mountainous peninsula and over 2000 islands. Large plain along the mainland’s Aegean coast. CLIMATE Mainly Mediterranean, with dry, hot summers. Alpine climate in northern mountain areas.
THE ECONOMY One of Europe’s leading tourist destinations. World’s largest shipping fleet. Fruit, vegetables, olives. Large black economy. Public debt and budget deficit remain high. BULGARIA MACEDONIA ALBANIA
Kateríni Ioánnina
Pátra Peiraías Kórinthos P e lo
Alexandroúpoli
Thracian Sea Límnos Lésvos
Vóreies Sporádes
Náxos Kos
i so s
Kalámata
Aegean Sea
Sámos
Isthmós Korinthou
pó
Chíos
ATHENS
nn
Zákynthos Ionian Sea
Xánthi TURKEY
Lamía
s
Kefalloniá
Sérres Thessaloníki Lárisa Vólos
Kérkyra Kérkyra Pi (Corfu) n
do
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Postwar industrial development altered the dominance of agriculture and seafaring. The rural exodus to industrial cities has been stemmed but a third of the population now lives in Athens. Age-old culture and Greek Orthodox Church balance social mobility. Civil marriage and divorce became legal only in 1982.
Dráma
Sea of Crete Mediterranean Sea
Chaniá
Ródos Kárpathos
Irákleio
Kríti (Crete)
INSIGHT: The modern Olympics, first held in Athens in 1896, evolved from Olympia’s ancient Greek games
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0
100 km
0
100 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Greek*, Turkish, Macedonian,
OFFICIAL NAME: Hellenic Republic DATE OF FORMATION: 1829 CAPITAL: Athens POPULATION: 11.2 million TOTAL AREA: 50,942 sq. miles
Albanian
other 2%
(131,940 sq. km) DENSITY: 221 people per sq. mile
GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
RELIGIONS: Orthodox Christian 98%,
Muslim 1%, other 1% ETHNIC MIX: Greek 98%,
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Grenada
225
The southernmost of the Windward Islands, Grenada made world headlines in 1983 when the US and Caribbean allies mounted an invasion to sever links with Castro’s Cuba. GEOGRAPHY Volcanic in origin, with densely forested central mountains. Its territory also includes the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique. CLIMATE Tropical, tempered by trade winds. Hurricanes are a hazard in the July– November wet season. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Grenadians are mainly of African origin; their traditions remain strong, especially on Carriacou. Inter-ethnic marriage has reduced tensions between the groups. Extended families, often headed by women, are the norm. Wealth disparities are not marked, but levels of poverty are growing. INSIGHT: Known as “the spice island of the Caribbean,” it is the world’s second-largest nutmeg producer
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Grenada DATE OF FORMATION: 1974 CAPITAL: St. George’s POPULATION: 103,900 TOTAL AREA: 131 sq. miles
(340 sq. km) DENSITY: 793 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Severe damage from Hurricane Ivan in 2004 to crops and 90% of buildings; reconstruction will take years. Nutmeg, cocoa, bananas, and mace. Smuggling is a serious problem. 0
Petite Martinique
8 km
0
8 miles
Hillsborough Carriacou
Diamond I. Ronde I.
Caribbean Sea
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Victoria Grand Roy Point Salines Airport
Grenville
Grena da ST. GEORGE’S 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: English*, English Creole RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 68%,
Anglican 17%, other 15% ETHNIC MIX: Black African 82%, Mixed race 13%, East Indian 3%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: East Caribbean dollar = 100 cents
226
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Guatemala The largest and most populous nation on the Central American isthmus, Guatemala returned to civilian rule in 1986 after 32 years of violent and repressive military rule.
GEOGRAPHY Narrow Pacific coastal plain. Central highlands with volcanoes. Short coast on the Caribbean Sea. Tropical rainforests in the north.
THE ECONOMY Coffee, sugar, and bananas are top exports. Tourism. Damage from natural disasters. Marked wealth inequalities inhibit domestic market. 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
CLIMATE Tropical: hot and humid in coastal regions and north. More temperate in central highlands.
Us
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Amerindians, concentrated in the highlands, form a majority. Power, wealth, and land are controlled by ladinos (Westernized Amerindians and mestizos). Catholicism is predominant, mixed with Amerindian beliefs. A third of the population lives on less than $2 a day. Literacy levels are low.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Guatemala DATE OF FORMATION: 1838 CAPITAL: Guatemala City POPULATION: 14 million TOTAL AREA: 42,042 sq. miles
(108,890 sq. km) DENSITY: 335 people per sq. mile
MEXICO
Lago Petén Itzá
ac
in
BELIZE
ta
INSIGHT: Guatemala, which means “land of trees,” was the center of the ancient Mayan civilization
um
Cari bbean Sea
Puerto Barrios Si
Cobán er
Lago de Izabal
r a Totonicapán ua HONDURAS M otag Mad Zacapa re Chimaltenango Jalapa Mazatenango GUATEMALA CITY Antigua Guatemala Escuintla Jutiapa PACIFIC OCEAN 0 0
San José
EL SALVADOR
100 km 100 miles
LANGUAGES: Quiché, Mam, Cakchiquel, Kekchí, Spanish* RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 33%, other 2% ETHNIC MIX: Amerindian 60%, Mestizo 30%, other 10% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Quetzal = 100 centavos
AFRICA
227
Guinea Located on the west coast of Africa, Guinea became the first French colony in Africa to gain independence, in 1958. The country was under military rule from 1984 to 1995. GEOGRAPHY Coastal plains and mangrove swamps in west rise to forested or savanna highlands in the south. Semidesert in the north.
THE ECONOMY Substantial gold, diamond, and especially bauxite reserves. Cash crops: bananas, coffee, pineapples, palm oil. Poor infrastructure. Instability.
CLIMATE Tropical, with a wet season April– October. Conakry is especially rainy. Hot, dry harmattan wind blows from Sahara during dry season.
INSIGHT: The colors of Guinea’s flag represent the three words of the country’s motto: work (red), justice (yellow), and solidarity (green)
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Peul and Malinké make up most of the population, but rivalries between them have allowed coastal peoples such as the Soussou to dominate politics. Daily life revolves around the extended family. Women acquired influence under Marxist party rule between 1958 and 1984, but the Muslim revival since then has reversed the trend. Private enterprise has created a business class.
GUINEABISSAU
SENEGAL
MALI
a F o u t
Siguiri Ni
l l o n D j a
g er
Labé
Boké
er Nig
Kankan
Kindia
CONAKRY ATLANTIC OCEAN
SIERRA LEONE
Kissidougou
Nzérékoré LIBERIA
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0
100 km
0
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Pulaar, Malinké, Soussou,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Guinea DATE OF FORMATION: 1958 CAPITAL: Conakry POPULATION: 10.1 million TOTAL AREA: 94,925 sq. miles
French*
(245,857 sq. km) DENSITY: 106 people per sq. mile
CÔTE D’IVOIRE (IVORY COAST)
100 miles
RELIGIONS: Muslim 65%, traditional beliefs 33%, Christian 2% ETHNIC MIX: Peul 39%, Malinké 23%, other 21%, Soussou 11%, Kissi 6% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Guinea franc = 100 centimes
228
AFRICA
Guinea-Bissau Known as Portuguese Guinea while a colony, Guinea-Bissau lies on Africa’s west coast. Since 1994, its nascent democracy has been plagued by coups and rebellions.
GEOGRAPHY Low-lying, apart from savanna highlands in northeast. Rainforests and swamps are found along coastal areas. CLIMATE Tropical, with wet season MayNovember and dry season DecemberApril. Hot, dry harmattan desert wind blows during dry season. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The largest ethnic group is the Balante, who live in the south. Though only around 1% of the population, the mixed Portuguese–African mestiços dominate the top ranks of government and bureaucracy. Most people live and work on small family farms, grouped in self-contained villages. The bulk of the urban population live in Bissau, where they face economic hardship. Narcotics traffickers are taking advantage of the ongoing instability.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Rep. of Guinea-Bissau DATE OF FORMATION: 1974 CAPITAL: Bissau POPULATION: 1.61 million TOTAL AREA: 13,946 sq. miles
(36,120 sq. km) DENSITY: 148 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Mostly subsistence farming. Lack of sufficiency in rice staple. Main cash crop is cashew nuts. Major cocaine transit route from South America to Europe. Offshore oil as yet untapped. Fisheries and timber potential. INSIGHT: In 1974, Guinea-Bissau became the first Portuguese colony to gain independence SENEGAL São Domingos
Farim Mansôa
Canchungo
Gamamudo
Pitche
Bafatá
BISSAU
Arquipélago dos Bijagós
Quebo Catió
GUINEA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
0 0
50 km 50 miles
200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Portuguese Creole, Balante, Fulani, Malinke, Portuguese* RELIGIONS: Indigenous beliefs 52%, Muslim 40%, Christian 8% ETHNIC MIX: Balante 30%, other 24%, Fulani 20%, Mandyako 14%, Mandinka 12% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
SOUTH AMERICA
229
Guyana On the northeast coast of South America, Guyana is the continent's only English-speaking country. Independent since 1966, it has close ties with the anglophone Caribbean.
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
SURINAME (claimed by Suriname)
eq ui bo
(claimed by Venezuela)
Corriverton t yn e
E ss
(214,970 sq. km)
BRAZIL
d s l a n g h H i
DATE OF FORMATION: 1966 CAPITAL: Georgetown POPULATION: 762,500 TOTAL AREA: 83,000 sq. miles
New Amsterdam
Linden
n a
of Guyana
GEORGETOWN
Bartica
i a
OFFICIAL NAME: Cooperative Republic
Spring Garden
u
FACTFILE
ATLANTIC OCEAN VENEZUELA
G
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Guyana is a complex multiracial society. Tension exists between the Afro-Guyanese, descended from slaves, and the Indo-Guyanese, descendants of laborers brought over after slavery was abolished. Politics is highly polarized around this split and has often spilled over into violence on the streets. Amerindian subsistence farmers are the poorest people in society and have little representation.
INSIGHT: Guyana means “land of many waters,” reflecting its dense network of rivers
u r an
CLIMATE Tropical. Coast cooled by sea breezes. Lowlands are hot, wet, and humid. Highlands are a little cooler.
THE ECONOMY Diverse exports: gold, sugar, fish, bauxite, rice, timber, diamonds. Debt relief granted. Narcotics transit zone.
Co
GEOGRAPHY Mainly artificial coast, reclaimed by dikes and dams from swamps and tidal marshes. Forests cover 85% of the interior, rising to savanna uplands and mountains.
0
100 km
0
100 miles
DENSITY: 10 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Creole, Hindi, English* RELIGIONS: Christian 57%, Hindu 33%,
Muslim 9%, other 1% ETHNIC MIX: East Indian 43%, Black African 30%, other 18%, Amerindian 9% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Guyanese dollar = 100 cents
230
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Haiti Formerly a French colony, Haiti shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. At independence in 1804, it became the world’s first black republic.
GEOGRAPHY Predominantly mountainous, with forests and fertile plains. CLIMATE Tropical, with rain throughout the year. Humid in coastal areas, much cooler in the mountains.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Haiti DATE OF FORMATION: 1804 CAPITAL: Port-au-Prince POPULATION: 10 million TOTAL AREA: 10,714 sq. miles
(27,750 sq. km) DENSITY: 943 people per sq. mile
INSIGHT: A slave rebellion headed by Toussaint Louverture in 1791 led to Haiti’s independence Île de la Tortue
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Limbé M a s s i f d u Gonaïves
Golfe de la Gonâve
Desdunes St-Marc
Île de la Gonâve
Jérémie
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Port-de-Paix
Cap-Haïtien N o r d
FortLiberté
Hinche PetiteRivièrede-l'Artibonite
PORT-AU-PRINCE
Massif d e la Hotte
Cayes
Pétionville Jacmel
Caribbean Sea 0 0
50 km 50 miles
LANGUAGES: French Creole*, French RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 80%,
Protestant 16%, other 3%, nonreligious 1%; Voodoo is widely practiced ETHNIC MIX: Black African 95%, Mixed race and European 5% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Gourde = 100 centimes
DOMINICAN REP.
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most Haitians are of African descent. A few have European roots, primarily French. The rigid class structure maintains vast disparities of wealth. The majority of the population live in extreme poverty; Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Americas. A combination of political oppression and a collapsing economy led thousands to seek asylum in the US or the Dominican Republic. Though most are Christians, many Haitians practice Voodoo, which was recognized as an official religion in 2003.
THE ECONOMY In crisis due to instability, hurricane damage, and corruption. Profiteering from narcotics trade to US. Food shortages. 70% unemployment.
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Honduras
231
Straddling the Central American isthmus, Honduras returned to democratic rule in 1984, after a period of military government. Hurricane Mitch devastated the country in 1998. GEOGRAPHY Narrow plains along both coasts, with a mountainous interior, cut by river valleys. Tropical forests, swamps, and lagoons in the east. CLIMATE Tropical coastal lowlands are hot and humid, with May–October rains. Interior is cooler and drier. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The majority of the population is mestizo (mixed race). An English-speaking garífuna (black) community and Miskito Amerindians struggle to preserve their rights to land along the remote Caribbean coast. Women’s status remains low. Hurricane Mitch impoverished 85% of the population. Wealth inequalities are large and poverty is at the root of social tension. The army ousted the president in 2009. Violent crime is a major issue.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Honduras DATE OF FORMATION: 1838 CAPITAL: Tegucigalpa POPULATION: 7.47 million TOTAL AREA: 43,278 sq. miles
(112,090 sq. km) DENSITY: 173 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Garments, coffee, bananas, and shellfish are exported. Remittances account for a fifth of GDP. Debt relief from 2005. Mineral potential. High underemployment and corruption. INSIGHT: The Honduran currency is named after a Lenca Indian chief who was the main leader of resistance to the Spanish conquest in the 16th century 0 0
100 km 100 miles C a r ib bean Se a
Tela GUATEMALA San Pedro Sula Santa Rosa de Copán
Laguna de Caratasca
La Ceiba El Progreso
Comayagua
TEGUCIGALPA EL SALVADOR PACIFIC OCEAN
Juticalpa
Danlí NICARAGUA Choluteca
Co co
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Garífuna, English Creole RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3% ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 90%, Black African 5%, Amerindian 4%, White 1% GOVERNMENT: Transitional regime CURRENCY: Lempira = 100 centavos
232
EUROPE
Hungary Landlocked in central Europe, Hungary was one of the twin centers of the once-great Habsburg Empire. It lost two-thirds of its historical territory for supporting Germany in World War I.
CLIMATE Continental, with wet springs, late but very hot summers, and cold, cloudy winters. The transition between seasons tends to be sudden.
Györ AUST. Tatabánya Szombathely Balaton
Nagykanizsa
IN
E
Nyíregyháza Debrecen
BUDAPEST Szolnok
Székesfehérvár
IA
(93,030 sq. km) DENSITY: 280 people per sq. mile
RA
Miskolc
D a n ub e
EN
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Hungary DATE OF FORMATION: 1918 CAPITAL: Budapest POPULATION: 9.99 million TOTAL AREA: 35,919 sq. miles
UK
SLOVAKIA
OV
FACTFILE
INSIGHT: The Hungarian language is Asian in origin and is most closely related to Finnish
SL
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Hungary’s population shrank in the 1990s. Mostly ethnic Hungarian (Magyar), there are small minorities of Germans, Jews, and neighboring peoples. Roma face particular discrimination. The government is greatly concerned about the fate of ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia. Hungary joined the EU in 2004. Working hours are longer than in western Europe.
THE ECONOMY Strong industrial base. Hard-hit in 2007–2008 "global downturn." Currency plummeted, $25 billion from IMF to avoid meltdown. Tough spending cuts needed to keep on path to join euro.
Danube
GEOGRAPHY Landlocked. Fertile plains in east and northwest; west and north are hilly. The Danube River cuts through the country and the capital.
Kecskemét
Békéscsaba ROMANIA
Szeged Pécs CROATIA
0 0
SERBIA
50 km 50 miles
500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Hungarian* RELIGIONS: Catholic 52%, Calvinist 16%,
other 15%, nonreligious 14%, Lutheran 3% ETHNIC MIX: Magyar 94%, other 5%, Roma 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Forint = 100 fillér
EUROPE
233
Iceland Europe’s westernmost country, Iceland’s strategic ocean location straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Its spectacular landscape is largely uninhabited, aside from coastal towns. GEOGRAPHY Grassy coastal lowlands, with fjords in the north. Central plateau of cold lava desert, geothermal springs, and glaciers. Around 200 volcanoes, with numerous geysers and solfataras. CLIMATE Its location in the middle of the Gulf Stream moderates the climate. Mild winters and brief, cool summers. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Icelanders share a strong national identity, with few foreign residents. Their language has changed little in 700 years, in part due to the country’s isolation. There is high social mobility, free health care, and low-cost heating (geothermal and hydropower). Iceland’s recent banking collapse and near financial ruin has swung the long-running debate over EU membership in favor of joining.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Iceland DATE OF FORMATION: 1944 CAPITAL: Reykjavík POPULATION: 322,700 TOTAL AREA: 39,768 sq. miles
(103,000 sq. km) DENSITY: 8 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Once reliant on fish. Aluminum smelting. Tourism. Banks overexposed in 2007–2008 "global downturn." Nation bankrupt, króna depreciated 90%. INSIGHT: The word geyser is taken from Geysir (the “gusher”) in southwest Iceland De
nm
ark
St r a it
0 Ar
cti
50 km
0
cC
50 miles
irc
le
Norwegian Sea
Akureyri Keflavík
Akranes
Húsavík
REYKJAVÍK
Hafnarfjördhur Kópavogur Selfoss Vestmannaeyjar
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Ice Cap
Egilsstadhir Vatnajökull
ATLANTIC OCEAN
LANGUAGES: Icelandic* RELIGIONS: Evangelical Lutheran 93%,
nonreligious 6%, other (mostly Christian) 1% ETHNIC MIX: Icelandic 94%, other 5%, Danish 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Icelandic króna = 100 aurar
234
ASIA
India India is the world’s second most populous country and largest democracy. Despite some success in reducing the birth rate, its population will probably overtake China’s by 2035.
GEOGRAPHY Separated from northern Asia by the Himalaya mountain range, India forms a subcontinent. As well as the Himalayas, there are two other main geographical regions, the Indo-Gangetic plain, which lies between the foothills of the Himalayas and the Vindhya Mountains, and the central-southern Deccan plateau. The Ghats are smaller mountain ranges located on the east and west coasts. CLIMATE Varies greatly according to latitude, altitude, and season. Most of India has three seasons: hot, wet, and cool. Summer temperatures in the north can reach 104°F (40°C). Monsoon rains normally break in June, petering out in September to October. In the cool season, the weather is mainly dry. The climate in the warmer south is less variable than in the north.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of India DATE OF FORMATION: 1947 CAPITAL: New Delhi POPULATION: 1.2 billion TOTAL AREA: 1,269,338 sq. miles
(3,287,590 sq. km) DENSITY: 1044 people per sq. mile
PEOPLE & SOCIETY India’s planners, overseeing an economic revolution, see its growing population rather than environmental constraints as the main brake on development. Nationwide awareness campaigns promote birth control but cultural and religious pressures encourage large families. Rural deprivation spurs urban migration, to live in sprawling slums. Almost 70% of people survive on less than $2 a day. The majority of Indians are Hindu. Various attempts to reform the Hindu caste system, which determines social standing and even marriage, have met with violent opposition. Severe tensions exist between Hindus and the Muslim minority, especially in Kashmir and Gujarat. Smaller ethnic groups exist in the northeast, and many struggle for greater autonomy. Over two million people are living with HIV/AIDS.
LANGUAGES: Hindi*, English*, Urdu, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, other RELIGIONS: Hindu 81%, Muslim 13%, Christian 2%, Sikh 2%, other 2% ETHNIC MIX: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Indian rupee = 100 paise
ASIA
THE ECONOMY One of Asia’s fastest-growing economies. Protectionism has given way to free-market economics. Tea, gems, 5000m/16405ft 4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
textiles exported. High-tech industries, outsourcing center. Success of “Bollywood” films. Cheap labor. Huge market, held back by poverty. INSIGHT: India’s national animal, the tiger, was depicted as early as 4000 years ago by the Mohenjo-Daro civilization
A ‘line off control’ was agreed g between India and Pakis akistan tan in 119972 in 2
Aksai Ak A k Chin ad admin istered byy China, claimed by India Demchok/Dêmqog q gadministered byy China, c cl cla claim ed by India Much of Arunáchal Pradeesh h is claimed by Chi hina hin in ina naa
I
Srín Sr nag naga na aga aag gaar n g Jamm JJam Ja amm am a mm m mu & d u s Kash Kas K Ka as a ash shm sh miiirH mir r
NEW DE DELH DEL D ELH EL ELHI
Jo Jodh od pur urr
Jaip Jaip pur urr
Rájjkot jkkot jko kott
Gu Gulf ulf lff of of Kham mbhát
Kaly Kal Ka K alyán aly
a da
Gh
at s Lakshhadwee dwee we p (Laccaad addiv dive ive ivee Is.) I ) Is
Mys Myso M yso yysso sore re
K ris
MY MYA M YA YAN YA AN NMAR (B (B BUR BU U MA) Im Im mp p ph hál
es
of tth of the he G Gan Ganges g ess
Nág gpur gp pur pu p u urr
i ar
Hub Hubl ub u blli b
BA B AN ANG A NG N GLLA LADE LAD ADE AD A DESH SH
ng
tr a
Dh Dhan Dh han nbád Ko K ollk o olk lkaat ata ta ta Háora ora ra (C chi hii (C Cal Ca aallcu cutt ccut ut utt u ttttaa)) Jaba Jab JJa aaba ab b baalpur lpu pu p pur u urr Ránchi Mout Mo Mou M Mouth out oou outh u utth s uth Jam Jam Jams am ams msshed heed h ed dp p pur u ur Ma
Nánde nded n nd ded ded de ed
So SSol olápur o urr u
rn
PPan Pa an naji na ajiji
Paatn Pa Patn tna tn
G
s
a
BH B BHU BHUT HUT H HU UTAN UT AN mapu h Bra Assam
Shi SShil Sh h hilligur iigu ig gur gu g urri u
LLuck uc u know no no ow w Kánp npu n npur pur pu p u urr anges
God áv Pun Pu Pun Pune un une nee D e c c a n Hyde yde de erábád
ste
Arabian Sea
N ar m
y
a
NEPA N PA AL
Várána naasi nas nasi ssii
Súrrat at
We
Mum mbaaii mb (Bomb bay ba ay )
Gw Gwal Gw wal wa alio iior or or
Bhópál Bh
IInd Indo In ndo n do dore re
Vado Va Vad V aad ado d do odar dara da d ara aar rra a
Ág gra gr ra ra
l
t
haná
Cut utt u ut ttttaack ck ck di
Bay of Bengal
s V Vis is isákha kkh hap ha h aapatnam
h
Jámn mn nag na aag gar ar
CHINA
a
Ga
Kot Kota K Ko o Rann Ran Ra R an a ann nn n n off Gul Gul Gu ulf ulff Kachc Ka a hh hh Ahma m dábád of K of Kachc chc hcchhhh
m
Meer Mee M eer eeeerru utt Delh Del De D eel elh llh hi Ba Bare B aare reiliill re illy llllly ly ly
G
Th
i
Chan Cha C Ch haaan han h ndíg nd gar ga garh arrh aarh rh
hna
Eas te rn
PAKISTA STA TAN TA T AN AN
ar
D
Jal Jala Ja aala al lla an ndha ndh nd dh dha d har ha
Lu Ludh LLud ud udh ud dh hián naa t er s e
a
Amrri ritsar
235
Ban Ba Bang B ang aan ng n g gaaalo allor alor llo orrree o Sale S Sa aaleem
An A Anda And maan ma I laands Is Isl nd n Isla nd man Chennai (M (M Ma adras)
I N D I A N O C E A N
Noor orth th Andam man Soou ou uth tthh A Andam an an
Mid Mi M iddl id iddle An A nddam nd n aman
PPo orrtt Blairr ort or Liittttl tle t Andam Anda And A An ndam n dam dda aam maan nd n
Coim C o mb oim bato ba atore ato re K hi/i/C Kochi Koch i/Co /Coch ch ch hin iin n 0 0
200 km 200 miles
Mad M Ma aad du d ura rai ai
Nicobba baarr Is IIsla nds n ssland slands ddss Indira Po Poi Poi ntt oi n
Grreat G Nic N iicco bar
236
ASIA
Indonesia Formerly called the Dutch East Indies, Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, with 18,108 islands scattered across 3000 miles (5000 km). It is the world’s fourth most populous nation. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The basic Melanesian–Malay ethnic division disguises a diverse society. Bahasa Indonesia, the national language, coexists with at least 250 other spoken languages or dialects. Attempts by the Javanese St
it of M al Lan Lang LLa an an ang ng g gsssa a ac ca Ace Ac Aceh A ceh ce ceh Meda Med M eda eed daan da n
Baand Ban Ba nd n daac aaace aace ceeh ceh
ra
Pada PPa aada d n ng g
S u m aatttrr a gu Pe
en
ta
Bangk Ban B Ba angk ngkka Jam JJa am am mb bi Kettaapa Keta pang pang g PPang Pa aang n kalp alp lp pinan ina iin naan na nan ng
ai
Pale Pal PPa ale aal lem mban mb ban b aang Beng Be Ben eng gkkul ku kulu ulu ulu ul lu isa n Baand B ndaarr Lamp am mpu m mp pu p ung ng
r Ba
w
Pont PPon Po onttian iana ia naak
an ng nu
M
(1,919,440 sq. km) DENSITY: 332 people per sq. mile
n
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Indonesia DATE OF FORMATION: 1949 CAPITAL: Jakarta POPULATION: 230 million TOTAL AREA: 741,096 sq. miles
ua
FACTFILE
Sing Sin gka kawa kaw awaang ng
Paka PPak Pa aaka akkanbar kan ka nba nbar nb b bar ba au
ul a
CLIMATE The climate is predominantly tropical monsoon. Variations relate mainly to differences in latitude and altitude; hilly areas are cooler overall. Rain falls throughout the year, often in thunderstorms, but there is a relatively dry season from June to September.
Kepul pulau auan aua au uan n Nat Natun Natu atun na
Pe PPem eema em maata m taang tan tang an ng n gsi ssian sia iian iaaan nta tar ar Pulau lau au u Nia Nia Nias iass ias Kep
GEOGRAPHY Indonesia is highly mountainous, with numerous tropical swamps. The land is covered with dense rainforest, especially on New Guinea, where it remains largely unexplored. There are more than 200 volcanoes, many of which are still active. Earthquakes, eruptions, and tsunamis are hazards. The islands of Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumatra, and Borneo were once joined together by dry land, which has since been submerged by rising sea levels. Coastal lowland development distinguishes some of the large islands.
Pu Pulau P u Belitung
JAKA JA AKA A AK K RTA
I N D I AN O C E AN
Sem eema em maaarang m rang an ang ng n g Bogo Bog B Bo o ogo og go g or SSe Band Ban B an aand ndun nd ung u ng n g Ja JJav aavv a Yogyakar Yogy ogyakarrttaa SSura urakart karta ta
LANGUAGES: Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Bahasa Indonesia*, Dutch RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 87%, Christian 9%, Hindu 2%, other 2% ETHNIC MIX: Javanese 42%, other 31%, Sundanese 15%, coastal Malays 12% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Rupiah = 100 sen
ASIA
political elite to suppress local cultures have been vigorously opposed, especially by the Aceh of northern Sumatra, and the Papuans. Religious and interethnic hostility is a problem, with clashes between Christians and Muslims in many areas, and discrimination against ethnic Chinese leading to mob attacks on their businesses. Gender equality is enshrined in law; women are active in public life.
THE ECONOMY Varied resources, especially natural gas. Cheap and plentiful labor pool. Sizable state-owned sector, and state control of prices of basic goods. Large foreign debt rescheduled. Bureaucracy and corruption damage business confidence. Regional conflicts and terrorist attacks deter tourists and investors. Piracy is rife. The 2004 tsunami, which killed over 130,000 people, devastated northern Sumatra.
BRU BR RUN UN NEI EI
P A C I F I C
MA MAL ALA AL LLA A AY YSIA
Pe gu M nung ull an er
C ele bes Sea
Sama Sam SSa am rind ind da Palu alu al alu u
Pos Poso PPo osso oso o so
Sul Su S u laaw ul awe we ssii we PPa Par arre eparre re
Makassarr
Fakf Fak FFa aak ak ak
Mani niiwo n wor wori w ori ori or
Pa Pap P Papu aapu pu p ua
ar Pulau ulau lau D am P uan Yam Yamde amde am m nu u K e pu la
Ra Raba a
Pu Pulau Pula Pu ulau l au lau Su Sumb Sum umba mba ba
F l or Flor Fl ores e es EEnde nde nd d h Kup K Kupa Kupang upang u g
4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft Sea Level
EAST EA EAS EAST T TIM TIMOR
Jaya Ja JJay aya aay yap pur pura pu ura ura ur ra
P e gu nu ng a n Ma oke Am mam mapar paarre par
Banda Sea
B li Bali li
0
Mano M aano an no n okkw kwar kwa war wa w ai
k
u C e r a m S e a (Mo lu Wafl Waf W Wa afl flia a cc as Ken Ke Kend K end een nd dar a ari ) Ambo A mbo bon Pu Pula Pul ula u la u la Ser Sera era er r am
Se a
SSur Sura Su urra ura u ra b baya bay ba a PPro Prob ro rob ob bolin o ggo go go JJe emb eem mb m ber er Denp Den De D een enp np n pas asar aasa ssar sa aarr M lang Mala ng
0
Equ r Equat Equato
(Ir ((I IIrriia ian aan n Jaya ay aaya ya ) ya
l pu K e an im T
K eeppul Kep pul auan n Arru Aru Ar u
New Ne New Gui Gu G u iin ui nea
Ara f ura ra S ea
T im Timo Ti Tim imo mor mor
INSIGHT: Indonesia has a very youthful population: almost 30% of its people are under 15 years of age
500 km 500 miles
PAPU PAP APU UA NE NEW W GU GUIN NEA NE NEA EA
Kota K Ko o baru Banj B Ban anj aan njjarma masin sin sin n Mart Mar M Ma aart ar rrtta taap pura p
Halm Ha H al a lm lm maahera Te at Tern ate te Gor Goro G Go orrro oro o on nta ntal ta tal talo ao al Molucca Soro Soro oro rong ng Sea Ma lu
au ba a n r
Bal Bali Ba B aalilliikpap al kkpa pa p pap apaan n SSamp Sam am mp m pitt
O C E A N
Manado Manad Mana do
Leeok Leok Leo eo o ok
Borneo
Ja va
237
238
ASIA
Iran Since the 1979 Islamic fundamentalist revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini, the Middle Eastern country of Iran has been the world’s largest theocracy.
GEOGRAPHY High desert plateau with large salt pans in the east. West and north are mountainous. Coastal land bordering Caspian Sea is rainy and forested. CLIMATE Desert climate. Hot summers, and bitterly cold winters. Area around the Caspian Sea is more temperate.
ou
(1,648,000 sq. km) DENSITY: 117 people per sq. mile
Kermánsháh IRAQ Ahváz
Mashhad
Qom I r anian Arák E§fahán P lat e au
nt
ai
Persian Gulf
AFGHANISTAN
ns
Khorramshahr KUWAIT Ábádán Shiráz
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
TURKMENISTAN
TEHRÁN
sM
OFFICIAL NAME: Islamic Republic of Iran DATE OF FORMATION: 1502 CAPITAL: Tehran POPULATION: 74.2 million TOTAL AREA: 636,293 sq. miles
AZERBAIJAN TURKEY Tabríz Ardabíl Caspian Sea Orúmíyeh ro
FACTFILE
INSIGHT: More than a hundred offenses carry the death penalty
Zag
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Many ethnic groups, including Persians, Azaris (ethnically related to Azeris), and Kurds. Militant Shi’a Islamism has dominated since the 1979 revolution. The mullahs’ belief that adherence to religious values is more important than economic welfare has resulted in declining living standards. Female emancipation has been reversed. Student-backed demonstrations favoring greater liberalism have been suppressed.
THE ECONOMY A leading oil producer: 80% of exports. Government restricts contact with the West, blocking acquisition of vital technology. High unemployment and inflation. Sizable black market.
Kermán Záhedán
PAKISTAN
Bandar-e ‘Abbás
0 0
200 km 200 miles
LANGUAGES: Farsi*, Azeri, Luri, Gilaki, Mazanderani, Kurdish, Turkmen, Arabic RELIGIONS: Shi’a Muslim 93%, Sunni Muslim 6%, other 1% ETHNIC MIX: Persian 50%, Azari 24%, other 10%, Kurd 8%, Lur and Bakhtiari 8% GOVERNMENT: Islamic theocracy CURRENCY: Iranian rial = 100 dinars
ASIA
Iraq
239
Oil-rich Iraq is situated in the central Middle East. The last 50 years have been dominated by dictatorship, war, and civil strife. A US-led Coalition ousted Saddam Hussein in April 2003. GEOGRAPHY Mainly desert. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers water fertile regions and create the southern marshland. Mountains along northeast border.
THE ECONOMY Economy and infrastructure have been destroyed. Given stability and aid for reconstruction, hopes of recovery rest on massive oil reserves.
CLIMATE Southern deserts have hot, dry summers and mild winters. North has dry summers, but winters can be harsh in the mountains. Rainfall is low.
INSIGHT: As Mesopotamia, Iraq was the site where the Sumerians established the world’s first civilization 0 0
100 km
TURKEY
100 miles Arbíl As Sulaymáníyah
Al Maw§il
IRAN
Buíayrat ath Tharthár
Ar Ramádí Syrian JORDAN Desert Karbalá’
Ba‘qúbah
BAGHDAD
Al ‘Amárah An Najaf Euph r ate s
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
SAUDI ARABIA
r is Tig
(437,072 sq. km) DENSITY: 182 people per sq. mile
Kirkúk
is
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Iraq DATE OF FORMATION: 1932 CAPITAL: Baghdad POPULATION: 30.7 million TOTAL AREA: 168,753 sq. miles
Euphra
te s
FACTFILE
SYRIA
Tigr
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Carved out of remnants of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq is home to Arab Muslims (mainly Shi’a, some Sunni), northern Kurds (who were persecuted under Saddam’s regime), and smaller minorities. Since Saddam’s removal, sectarian violence has overshadowed the new democratic state. Now that security is improving, Coalition forces are pulling out. After years of war and sanctions, poverty is widespread.
An Ná§iríyah Al Ba§rah
LANGUAGES: Arabic*, Kurdish, Turkic languages, Armenian, Assyrian RELIGIONS: Shi’a Muslim 60%, Sunni Muslim 35%, other 5% ETHNIC MIX: Arab 80%, Kurdish 15%, Turkmen 3%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: New Iraqi dinar = 1000 fils
KUWAIT
240
EUROPE
Ireland In the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Britain, the Irish Republic governs about 85% of the island of Ireland, with the remainder (Northern Ireland) being part of the UK.
GEOGRAPHY Low mountain ranges along an irregular coastline surround an inland plain punctuated by lakes, undulating hills, and peat bogs. CLIMATE The Gulf Stream accounts for the mild and wet climate. Snow is rare, except in the mountains.
THE ECONOMY Strong growth until 2008, when housing bubble burst and banks faltered. Struggling to cut budget deficit. Skilled workforce. Efficient agriculture, foodprocessing, and electronics industries. 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level UNITED KINGDOM
Donegal
(Northern Ireland)
Sligo Dundalk Westport
Shannon
ATLANTIC Airport OCEAN Tralee
o
Galway
Athlone S ha nn
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Though homogeneous in ethnicity and Roman Catholic by religion, society has undergone a major generational change, liberalizing birth control, divorce, abortion, and general attitudes. Traditionally an emigrant nation, there is now net immigration. The Good Friday peace agreement over Northern Ireland was reached in 1998.
Do ne ga l Ba y
Cork
DUBLIN
n Lough Derg
Limerick
Tipperary Clonmel Killarney
Dún Laoghaire
Wicklow Mts.
Kilkenny Wexford Waterford C e ltic Se a
INSIGHT: About 40% of Irish people can speak Irish Gaelic
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Ireland DATE OF FORMATION: 1922 CAPITAL: Dublin POPULATION: 4.52 million TOTAL AREA: 27,135 sq. miles
(70,280 sq. km) DENSITY: 170 people per sq. mile
I ri sh S ea
Mullingar
0 0
LANGUAGES: English*, Irish Gaelic* RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 88%,
other and nonreligious 9%, Anglican 3% ETHNIC MIX: Irish 99%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
50 km 50 miles
ASIA
241
Israel Created as a new state in 1948, Israel lies on the eastern Mediterranean. The current phase of the Palestinian intifada (armed struggle) against Israeli occupation began in 2000. GEOGRAPHY Coastal plain. Desert in the south. In the east lie the Great Rift Valley and the Dead Sea – the lowest point on the Earth’s land surface. CLIMATE Summers are hot and dry. Wet season, March–November, is mild. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Large numbers of Jews settled in Palestine before Israel was founded in 1948. After World War II, there was a massive increase in immigration. Sephardi Jews from the Middle East and Mediterranean are now in the majority, but Ashkenazi Jews from central Europe still dominate business and politics. Palestinians in Gaza and Jericho gained limited autonomy in 1994 but their desire, backed by most of the world, for a separate state has led to years of fierce violence.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: State of Israel DATE OF FORMATION: 1948 CAPITAL: Jerusalem (unrecognized by UN) POPULATION: 7.17 million TOTAL AREA: 8019 sq. miles
(20,770 sq. km) DENSITY: 913 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY High-tech industries, modern infrastructure and educated workforce, but hampered by conflict and boycotts. INSIGHT: All Jews worldwide have the right to Israeli citizenship LEBANON
SYRIA
Golan Heights
Hefa Tverya
Lake Natzrat Tiberias Mediterranean Netanya Jordan Sea WEST BANK Tel Aviv-Yafo Petah Tikva Holon Jericho Ashdod Bethlehem JERUSALEM Gaza Hebron
GAZA STRIP
(under Palestinian administration)
Dead Sea
Be’er Sheva HaNe ge v
0
EGYPT
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Below Sea Level
0
50 km 50 miles
JORDAN Elat
Gulf of Aqaba
LANGUAGES: Hebrew*, Arabic*, Yiddish, German, Russian, Polish, other RELIGIONS: Jewish 76%, Muslim (mainly Sunni) 16%, other 6%, Christian 2% ETHNIC MIX: Jewish 76%, other (mostly Arab) 24% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Shekel = 100 agorot
242
EUROPE
Italy The Italian peninsula was home to the Roman Empire, one of the greatest ancient civilizations. The south has two famous volcanoes, Vesuvius and Etna.
GEOGRAPHY The Appennines form the backbone of a rugged peninsula, extending from the Alps into the Mediterranean Sea. Alluvial plain in the north.
THE ECONOMY World leader in industrial and product design, fashion, textiles. Strong tourism and agriculture sectors. Large public sector debt.
CLIMATE Mediterranean in the south. Seasonal extremes in the mountains and on the northern alluvial plain.
INSIGHT: Italy was a collection of dukedoms, monarchies, and citystates before unification in the 1860s
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Italian Republic DATE OF FORMATION: 1861 CAPITAL: Rome POPULATION: 59.9 million TOTAL AREA: 116,305 sq. miles
(301,230 sq. km) DENSITY: 527 people per sq. mile
Al Milano Torino Po FRANCE Genova
ps Verona
AUSTRIA Bolzano SLOVENIA Trieste
Venezia Parma Golfo di Venezia Bologna Rimini Pisa Firenze SAN MARINO Ancona Adriatic p Perugia p Sea e ROME n n in VATICAN CITY o Bari Napoli Taranto Lecce Salerno Sardegna (Sardinia) Ionian Tyrrhenian Cosenza S e a Cagliari A
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Ethnically homogeneous, but with a gulf between the prosperous, industrial north and the poorer, agricultural south. Strong regional identities persist, especially on Sicily and Sardinia. Family ties remain strong, though the influence of the Roman Catholic Church has lessened.
SWITZERLAND
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Sassari
Sea
Messina
0 0
Me dite r r an e an Palermo Sea Sicilia 100 km (Sicily)
Siracusa
100 miles
LANGUAGES: Italian*, German, French, Rhaeto-Romanic, Sardinian RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 85%, other and nonreligious 13%, Muslim 2% ETHNIC MIX: Italian 94%, other 4%, Sardinian 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Jamaica
243
First colonized by the Spanish and then by the English, the Caribbean island of Jamaica achieved independence in 1962. It remains an influential force in Caribbean politics. GEOGRAPHY Mainly mountainous, with lush tropical vegetation. Inaccessible limestone area in the northwest. Low, irregular coastal plains are broken by hills and plateaus. CLIMATE Tropical. Hot and humid at sea level, with temperate mountain areas. Hurricanes are likely June–November. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Social tensions result from vast disparities in wealth, rather than race. Economic and political life is dominated by a few wealthy, long-established families. Many women hold senior positions in public life. Armed crime, much of it narcotics-related, is a problem. Large areas of Kingston, which have their own patois, are ruled by violent gangs. Jamaican music styles are influential worldwide.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Jamaica DATE OF FORMATION: 1962 CAPITAL: Kingston POPULATION: 2.72 million TOTAL AREA: 4243 sq. miles
(10,990 sq. km) DENSITY: 650 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Major bauxite producer, though sector suffering from low world prices. Tourism and light industry. Sugar, bananas, coffee, and rum are exported. Debt burden dominates budget. High underemployment. INSIGHT: Jamaica’s Rastafarians revere the late emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, as their spiritual leader, and see Africa as their spiritual home Caribbean Sea
Montego Bay Savanna -la-Mar
St. Ann's Bay The Cockpit Ocho Rios Country Port Antonio Ewarton
Mandeville
Spanish Town
May Pen
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
KINGSTON
Old Harbour Portmore Caribbean Sea 0
40 km
0
LANGUAGES: English Creole, English* RELIGIONS: Protestant 55%,
other and nonreligious 45% ETHNIC MIX: Black African 92%, Mulatto 6%, European and Chinese 1%, East Indian 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Jamaican dollar = 100 cents
40 miles
244
ASIA
Japan Japan is located off the east Asian coast and comprises four principal islands and over 3000 smaller ones. A powerful economy, it has an emperor as ceremonial head of state.
GEOGRAPHY The terrain is predominantly mountainous, with fertile coastal plains; over two-thirds is woodland. There is no single continuous mountain range; the mountains divide into many small land blocks separated by lowlands and dissected by numerous river valleys. The islands lie on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent. The Pacific coast is vunerable to tsunamis. There are numerous hot springs. CLIMATE Generally temperate–oceanic. Spring is warm and sunny, while summer is hot and humid, with high rainfall. In western Hokkaido and northwest Honshu, winters are very cold, with heavy snowfall. Freak storms and damaging floods in recent years have raised concern over global climate changes.
PEOPLE & SOCIETY One of the most racially homogeneous societies in the world. A sense of order and social structure was founded on a strongly ingrained respect for elders and social superiors. In business, this underpinned the now much-diluted “lifetime employer” concept, where company allegiance determined social life as well as career. There is little tradition of generational rebellion, but the youth market is powerful and current fashions focus on teenagers. The education system is highly pressurized. Nongraduates have difficulty reaching management-level jobs, so competition for university places is intense. Long-term jobs for women are now the norm. One of the world’s best healthcare systems and increased longevity have led to an aging population, with one in five people already over 65. The cost of living is high, especially in Tokyo.
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Japanese*, Korean,
OFFICIAL NAME: Japan DATE OF FORMATION: 1590 CAPITAL: Tokyo POPULATION: 127 million TOTAL AREA: 145,882 sq. miles
Chinese
(377,835 sq. km) DENSITY: 875 people per sq. mile
GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Yen = 100 sen
RELIGIONS: Shinto and Buddhist 76%,
Buddhist 16%, other (including Christian) 8% ETHNIC MIX: Japanese 99%, other (mainly
Korean) 1%
ASIA
INSIGHT: The Japanese are among the world’s most avid newspaper readers, with daily sales exceeding 70 million copies
THE ECONOMY World’s second-largest economy. Established market leader in high-tech electronic goods and cars. Talent for developing ideas from abroad. Global spread of business – especially to EU, US. Once-revolutionary management and production methods. Long-term research and development. Largest coal importer. Trade surplus causes international tension. Protectionism in domestic economy. Much-needed reform of financial sector has been obstructed by traditional economic power brokers. Significant aid donor.
Sakishimashotó
Laa Pe Perouse P rouse ousee S Stra St Str tra trait i
Naha PACIFIC OCEAN
Naze 0 100 km 0
100 miles
Kuri Kur K u uri riile le Is.
Kiita Kit K Kita mii iittam
Asah Asa As sah ah hika ika kkaw aaw w waa
Otta O Ota tar taarru Sapp Sa Sapp aap pp p po orrro oro o o p Muro Mu M urro orran raan an
Ku Kush K ussh ush hiro ro o
Obi Obih Ob O bih bi b hiiro irrro o iih Toma Tom TTo oma o om maakom m kko om o m ma ai
Hak Ha H aako koda ko od dat da ate aat ttee
Ao Ao omo om mo m ri ori Hirosa aaki kkii
Kyúshú
Amami-guntó
Kurile Islands A Admin istered by the Russ. Fed., claimed by y Japa Japan
Hokkaidó
Ibusuki Nansei- hotó s
Hac Ha H ach ac chinohe
PACIFIC OCEAN
Mo M orrriio o okkkaa Sea of Akkki A kit iitta Japan Hoo n shú H akka kattaa ( E a s t S e a ) Sak Ish IIshi Is hi h noma no nom om o m ki ssh shi hinoma inoma ma aki Sado Sad Sa ad addoo
Niiiiig N Niig igata ata at ta
Seend SSend Sen en nd n daai ai d Fukku Fuk Fu usshi shim him h a Kóri rriy iiyyama Iw Iwak Iwa Iw waak wak aki Nag N Na Naga aga aag gan ga no o Hita Hit H ittaachi ch Oyam Oya O yam yya aam ma Tak Ta TTaka ak kkaasak kasak ssaki sa akki aaki aaka
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft Sea Level
Aizu Aiz Ai A iiz zzu-W Wak W akkaama amat am mat m u maat izu atssu Nag Naga Nag aga gaao g oka ok ka ka
Oki O Ok kkii Dózzen en en
Mat Mats Ma M ats atssu ue e Tsush ush shhim ima ima ma
Toy TTo Toya Toyam oya oy o am maa Kana azaw zaw awa waa aw
Fu Fuk Fuku uku uk kui ku TOK TO T OKY OK YO O Tot To TTott ott tttto ori or rrii Gif Gi Gifu G iifu ifffu u Kawa Kaw Ka K aw w asa ssak akkkii aaki wa aawa Chib Ch C hib ba Naago Nago Nag Na ag g go oyyaa Kyyót K Kyót yyó ótto ó o Odaw O Od Oda daaaw daw d war aara rraa Toy TTo Toyo oyyo oy ta ota oyo SSh Shiz hiz h iz izu uok uoka uo oka o okka Kób bee Óssaka sak sa aaka ak ka ka Ham H Hama am ama mam ma mats mat aats at t u
Koshi hikij kij ki ijim iji jim im maareetttttó ó
Kag ago go ossh shim him iim ma ma
0
Philippine Sea
Hachijó-jji jima ma
Izu-shotó ó
Miy Miya M yyaazaki za iya iy
Kyú K Ky yyú ú shú Ib Ibu IIbus bus bu b usuk u uki uki ki
P A C I F I C
0
Ogasawara-shotó
Kazan-rettó 0 0
200 km 200 miles
150 miles
PACIFIC OCEAN
Sumisu-ji -ji jim im ma
O C E A N
150 km
shotó
Kita Kita ta akkyyúsh shú Yam Y Yama Ya am aama m maag gu guch guc uch u uc cch hi FFuku uku uk u kku oka ok ka ka uo Kócch chi hii h Toku TTok okkku oku o usshim sh shi him him im a SSa Sag Saga ag aga ag gaa Óiit Shi Sh Shik hik hhi i k ook ik oku kku u ita ttaa S Naga Na Nag aaga ag gaasaki g sak akkkii aki Yats Ya Y ats ats at tsu usssh ushi ush o hiir h shi irro Naaka Naka Na ka amura mura mu u
TOKYO Izu-
Okay Oka O kay kka aayyama aam maa m Hiiro Hir Hiro H iirrro shim shi him him ma Ok ossh
245
246
ASIA
Jordan The Kingdom of Jordan lies east of Israel, and borders the Palestinian West Bank. Its relations with its Arab neighbors are troubled by its relatively close ties to the US.
GEOGRAPHY Mostly desert plateaus, with occasional salt pans. Lowest parts lie along the eastern shores of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. CLIMATE Hot, dry summers. Cool, wet winters. Areas below sea level very hot in summer, and warm in winter.
THE ECONOMY Lack of water. Exports garments, potash, fertilizers, and phosphates. Tourism hit by regional instability. INSIGHT: The Nabataean ruins of the ancient city of Petra attract thousands of tourists every year SYRIA Ar Ramthá
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Jordan is predominantly Muslim with a strong national identity, but its people have Bedouin roots. There is a Christian minority, while Palestinians who have emigrated from Israeli-occupied territory make up a third of the population. Jordan ceded its claim to the West Bank to the aspiring Palestinian state in 1988. The monarchy’s power base lies among the rural tribes, which also provide the backbone of the military.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Hashemite Kingdom
of Jordan DATE OF FORMATION: 1946 CAPITAL: Amman POPULATION: 6.32 million TOTAL AREA: 35,637 sq. miles
(92,300 sq. km)
J o r da n
Irbid
Al Mafraq Az Zarqá’
Wádí as Sír Dead Sea
ISRAEL
Syrian IRAQ Desert
AMMAN Ma’dabá Al Karak
SAUDI ARABIA
Wádí Músa‘ (Petra) EGYPT Gulf Al ‘Aqabah of Aqaba
0 0
50 km 50 miles
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Below Sea Level
DENSITY: 184 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Arabic RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 92%,
other (mostly Christian) 8% ETHNIC MIX: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%,
Armenian 1% GOVERNMENT: Monarchy CURRENCY: Jordanian dinar = 1000 fils
ASIA
Kazakhstan
247
Kazakhstan was the last of the former Soviet republics to declare independence. Foreign investment in the oil and natural gas sector is strengthening its regional power. GEOGRAPHY Mainly steppe. Volga Delta and Caspian Sea in the west. Central plateau. Inhospitable Altai Mountains in the east. Semidesert in the south. CLIMATE Dry continental. Temperature variations between desert south and northern steppes are large. Winters are mildest near the Caspian Sea.
THE ECONOMY Vast mineral resources: natural gas, oil, bismuth, uranium, and cadmium. Oil pipelines to China and Black Sea. Many Western investors. Wheat exported. Sale of farmland only legal since 2003. INSIGHT: The Soviet-built Baykonyr space center is still an important launch site for international missions RUSS. FED.
(2,717,300 sq. km) DENSITY: 15 people per sq. mile
ASTANA
Kirghiz Steppe Karaganda
sh
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Kazakhstan DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Astana POPULATION: 15.6 million TOTAL AREA: 1,049,150 sq. miles
RUSS. FED.
Ir
ty
FACTFILE
Ural’sk
Kostanay
Rudnyy
Ust’Kamenogorsk
Ozero Zhezkazgan Balkhash Caspian Taldykorgan Baykonyr Sea Syr Kyzylorda Aktau Da CHINA ry Almaty Aral Taraz Sea UZBEK. Shymkent TURKMEN. KYRGYZSTAN
a
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Kazakhstan’s ethnic diversity arose mainly from forced settlements there during Soviet times. Since independence, the proportion of ethnic Russians has dropped. Many emigrated, while ethnic Kazakhs arrived from neighboring states. Very few Kazakhs maintain a traditional nomadic lifestyle, but Islam and loyalty to clans remain strong. There are significant disparities of wealth.
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Below Sea level
0 0
400 km 400 miles
LANGUAGES: Kazakh*, Russian, Ukrainian, Tatar, Uzbek, Uighur, other RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 47%, Orthodox Christian 44%, other 9% ETHNIC MIX: Kazakh 57%, Russian 27%, other 10%, Ukrainian 3%, Uzbek 3% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Tenge = 100 tiyn
248
AFRICA
Kenya Kenya straddles the equator on Africa’s east coast. After nearly 40 years in power, the KANU party was soundly defeated in elections in 2002. Corruption is a serious issue.
GEOGRAPHY A central plateau is divided by the Great Rift Valley. North of the equator is mainly semidesert. To the east lies a fertile coastal belt.
INSIGHT: Kenya has more than 50 game reserves, national parks, and marine reservations
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Kenya DATE OF FORMATION: 1963 CAPITAL: Nairobi POPULATION: 39.8 million TOTAL AREA: 224,961 sq. miles
(582,650 sq. km) DENSITY: 182 people per sq. mile
UGANDA
ETHIOPIA Lake Turkana
ll e y i ft V a at R
PEOPLE & SOCIETY 70 ethnic groups share about 40 languages. Strong clan and family links in rural areas are being weakened by urban migration. Poverty, severe drought, and years of high population growth exacerbate ethnic tensions.
Elemi
SUDAN Triangle
G re
CLIMATE The coast and the Great Rift Valley are hot and humid. The plateau interior is temperate. The northeastern desert is hot and dry. Rain usually falls April–May and October–November.
THE ECONOMY Tourism: image damaged by 2008 post-election violence. Flowers, tea, and coffee are cash crops. Needs food aid. Diversified manufacturing sector. Sizable informal economy.
Chalbi Desert Marsabit SOMALIA
Eldoret Kisumu Lake Victoria
Nakuru
Kericho
NAIROBI
Meru
Equator
Nyeri Thika Machakos
TANZANIA Malindi 5000m/16405ft 4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Mombasa
Ungama Bay
INDIAN OCEAN 0 100 km 0
LANGUAGES: Kiswahili*, English*, other RELIGIONS: Christian 60%, traditional
beliefs 25%, other 9%, Muslim 6% ETHNIC MIX: Other 42%, Kikuyu 20%,
Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 11% GOVERNMENT: Mixed presidential– parliamentary system CURRENCY: Kenya shilling = 100 cents
100 miles
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
249
Kiribati Situated in the mid-Pacific, the islands adopted the name Kiribati (pronounced “Keer-ee-bus,” a corruption of their former name “Gilberts”) upon independence from Britain in 1979. GEOGRAPHY Kiribati consists of three groups of tiny, very low-lying coral atolls scattered across 1,930,000 sq. miles (5 million sq. km) of ocean. Most of the 33 atolls have central lagoons. CLIMATE Central islands have a maritime equatorial climate. Those to north and south are tropical, with constant high temperatures. There is little rainfall.
Tarawa Banaba
Equator
Kiritimati
Phoenix Islands
and
s
(717 sq. km) DENSITY: 361 people per sq. mile
PACIFIC OCEAN L
Tungaru
Isl
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Kiribati DATE OF FORMATION: 1979 CAPITAL: Bairiki (Tarawa Atoll) POPULATION: 99,000 TOTAL AREA: 277 sq. miles
All land under 200m/656ft
e
FACTFILE
INSIGHT: In 1981, the UK paid A$10 million to Banabans for the destruction of their island by mining
in
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Officially I-Kiribati, many local people still refer to themselves as Gilbertese. Almost all are Micronesian, apart from the inhabitants of the island of Banaba, who employed anthropologists to establish their racial distinction. Most people are poor subsistence farmers and many travel abroad to work. The islands are effectively ruled by traditional chiefs.
THE ECONOMY Since exhaustion of Banaba’s phosphate deposits in 1980, copra (dried coconut) and fish have become the main exports. Foreign aid and remittances are vital to compensate for Kiribati’s isolation and lack of resources.
Millennium Island
Tarawa Bonriki Betio
BAIRIKI
0 0
600 km 600 miles
LANGUAGES: English*, Kiribati RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 53%,
Kiribati Protestant Church 39%, other 8% ETHNIC MIX: Micronesian 99%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Nonparty system CURRENCY: Australian dollar = 100 cents
250
ASIA
North Korea Separated from the democratic South by the world’s most heavily defended border, the Stalinist North Korean state has been isolated from the outside world since 1948.
GEOGRAPHY Mostly mountainous, with fertile plains in the southwest. CLIMATE Continental. Warm summers and cold winters, especially in the north, where snow is common. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Life is heavily regulated. Cult of personality is more powerful than the state-controlled religions, which include Korea’s own Chondogyo. Women are expected to work and to run the home. Children are looked after in state-run crèches. The Korean Worker’s Party is the sole party. Its elite have a privileged lifestyle. Globally condemned for its nuclear weapons development, its grip on power perpetuates its pariah status. INSIGHT: Only the political elite are allowed phones and private cars
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea DATE OF FORMATION: 1948 CAPITAL: Pyongyang POPULATION: 23.9 million TOTAL AREA: 46,540 sq. miles
(120,540 sq. km)
THE ECONOMY Minerals are only resource. Vital aid streams lost with global collapse of communism after 1989. Decades of economic mismanagement have led to chronic food shortages. Lack of fuel. Disproportionate defense budget. 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
RUSS. FED. Ch’ôngjin
C H I N A Kanggye Hûich’ôn Sinûiju
Hamhûng
Kimch’aek Iwôn
Hûngnam Wônsan
Korea Ba y
PYONGYANG
Sea of Japan (East Sea)
Namp’o Haeju Kaesông Y e llo w Se a
SOUTH KOREA 0
50 km
0
DENSITY: 514 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Korean*, Chinese RELIGIONS: Government-controlled
religions include Chondogyo, Buddhism, and Christianity ETHNIC MIX: Korean 100% GOVERNMENT: One-party state CURRENCY: N. Korean won = 100 chon
50 miles
ASIA
251
South Korea South Korea occupies the southern half of the Korean peninsula. Under US sponsorship, it was separated from the communist North in 1948 and is now a capitalist economy.
0 0
50 km 50 miles
NORTH KOREA
Sea of Japan (East Sea)
SEOUL Inch’ôn
Sôngnam
Kangnûng Tonghae
Suwôn Yellow Sea
Taejôn
Kunsan
Taegu Masan
Kwangju Mokp’o
Yôsu
Ulsan Pusan Ko
re
a
C h ej u S t rait
INSIGHT: Half of all Koreans are named Kim, Lee, Park, or Choi
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Korea DATE OF FORMATION: 1948 CAPITAL: Seoul POPULATION: 48.3 million TOTAL AREA: 38,023 sq. miles
(98,480 sq. km) DENSITY: 1268 people per sq. mile
t
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Inhabited for the last 2000 years by a single ethnic group. The nuclear family is replacing traditional extended households. Since the 1953 armistice, the Koreas have remained technically at war. Reunification is the ultimate goal, but in 2009 the South became less conciliatory and the North retaliated by ending its offer of cooperation.
rai
CLIMATE There are four distinct seasons. Winters are dry, and bitterly cold. Summers are hot and humid.
THE ECONOMY World’s biggest shipbuilder. High-tech goods and cars: rising demand from China. Strong regional competition. Aging population.
St
GEOGRAPHY Over 80% is mountainous and twothirds is forested. The flattest and most populous parts lie along the west coast and in the extreme south.
Cheju Cheju-do
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Korean*, Chinese RELIGIONS: Mahayana Buddhist 47%,
Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 11%, Confucianist 3%, other 1% ETHNIC MIX: Korean 100% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: South Korean won = 100 chon
252
EUROPE
Kosovo Once part of the former Yugoslav state, Kosovo seceded from Serbia in 2008. International recognition, mainly from Western countries, is strongly opposed by Serbia and Russia.
GEOGRAPHY Landlocked and mountainous, with two plains in the east and west. CLIMATE Continental, with warm, sunny summers and cold, snowy winters. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The balance of Albanians to Serbs in Kosovo has changed dramatically over centuries, both groups suffering interethnic violence at various times. Attacks against Albanians in the late 1990s caused a million to flee. After NATO stepped in, many Serbs left: Albanians now form a 92% majority. Most Albanians are Muslim. Serbs dominate three northern provinces, which have threatened to secede.
THE ECONOMY One of the two poorest countries in Europe. Aid and remittances cover a large trade deficit. Organized crime: smuggling of fuel, cigarettes, and cement. Uncertain status deters foreign investors. High unemployment. Use of euro has kept inflation low. Lignite deposits. Inefficient agriculture. SERBIA
MONT. M
ok
o ra G
Peje
Deçan
Mitrovicë
ra
Vushtrri
Kamenicë
PRISTINA
Klinë
Gjilan
Gjakovë Prizren
Ferizaj
ALBANIA MACEDONIA
INSIGHT: The UN administered Kosovo in 1999–2008 after NATO intervention to stop Serb ethnic cleansing
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Kosovo DATE OF FORMATION: 2008 CAPITAL: Pristina POPULATION: 2.1 million TOTAL AREA: 4212 sq. miles
(10,908 sq. km) DENSITY: 499 people per sq. mile
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft
0 0
50 km 50 miles
LANGUAGES: Albanian*, Serbian*, Bosniak, Gorani, Roma, Turkish RELIGIONS: Muslim 92%, Roman Catholic 4%, Orthodox Christian 4% ETHNIC MIX: Albanian 92%, Serb 4%, Bosniak and Gorani 2%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
ASIA
253
Kuwait Kuwait lies at the northwest tip of the Gulf, dwarfed by its neighbors Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. It was a British protectorate until 1961, when full independence was granted. GEOGRAPHY Terrain is low-lying desert. The lowest land is in the north. Cultivation is only possible along the coast. CLIMATE Summers are very hot and dry. Winters are cooler, with some rain and occasional frost at night.
THE ECONOMY Oil and natural gas dominate the economy. Skilled workforce, raw materials, and food are imported. High standard of living. Financial services: stock market lost 40% of value in 2008. INSIGHT: During the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq deliberately set fire to 800 of Kuwait’s 950 oil wells 0
(17,820 sq. km) DENSITY: 434 people per sq. mile
Jazírat Búbíyán
Jál al-Liyáí
Al Baírah
Shiqqat al Qalíb
KUWAIT CITY Al Jahrá’ As Salímí
As Salímíyah
Qalíb ash Shuyúkh
Al Fuíayííl
Al Aímadí SAUDI ARABIA
Persian Gulf
A§ flubayííyah
uq
OFFICIAL NAME: State of Kuwait DATE OF FORMATION: 1961 CAPITAL: Kuwait City POPULATION: 2.99 million TOTAL AREA: 6880 sq. miles
25 miles
I R A Q
h hS
FACTFILE
25 km
0
As
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Oil-rich monarchy, ruled by the al-Sabah family. It is a conservative Sunni Muslim society, but women are relatively free. Nonetheless, a 1999 decree giving women the vote was blocked for six years in parliament by Islamic traditionalists. Immigrant workers, from other Arab states, India, and Pakistan, now outnumber native citizens. US-led forces rescued Kuwait after the 1990 Iraqi invasion, and later used it as a launchpad for the 2003 invasion to oust Saddam Hussein.
200m/656ft Sea Level
ay
q
Al Wafrá’
LANGUAGES: Arabic*, English RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 45%, Shi’a
Muslim 40%, Christian, Hindu, and other 15% ETHNIC MIX: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, other 11% GOVERNMENT: Monarchy CURRENCY: Kuwaiti dinar = 1000 fils
254
ASIA
Kyrgyzstan A small and mountainous landlocked state in central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is one of the least urbanized ex-Soviet republics, and was slow to develop its own sense of cultural identity.
GEOGRAPHY The mountainous spurs of the Tien Shan range contain glaciers, alpine meadows, forests, and narrow valleys. Semidesert in the west. CLIMATE Varies from permanent snow and cold deserts at high altitudes, to hot deserts in low regions. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Ethnic Kyrgyz have only been in the majority since the late 1980s – due to a high birth rate and the emigration of ethnic Russians. Wary of losing skills vital to the economy, the government has attempted to deter Russians from leaving; concessions include making Russian an official language. There are some tensions between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks, and a trend toward greater Islamization, particularly in the poorer south.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Kyrgyz Republic DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Bishkek POPULATION: 5.48 million TOTAL AREA: 76,641 sq. miles
(198,500 sq. km) DENSITY: 72 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Mainly still under state control; corruption issues. Agriculture employs half of the labor force. Cotton, wool, meat, and tobacco exports. Mercury, gold, and antimony are mined. Great potential for hydroelectric power. INSIGHT: Kyrgyz folklore is based around the 1000-year-old poem, Manas, which takes a week to recite KAZAKHSTAN
BISHKEK KaraBalta
Talas
Tokmak IssykKul’
Tie
Dzhalal-Abad UZBEKISTAN
Ozero Karakol Issyk-Kul’
h n S
an
Naryn
Osh C H I N A
Sulyukta TAJIKISTAN 0 0
100 km 100 miles
4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft
LANGUAGES: Kyrgyz*, Russian*, other RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 70%,
Orthodox Christian 30% ETHNIC MIX: Kyrgyz 65%, Uzbek 14%,
Russian 13%, other 6%, Dungan 1%, Ukrainian 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Som = 100 tyiyn
ASIA
255
Laos A French colony prior to 1953, Laos lies landlocked in southeast Asia. Heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, it fell in 1975 to communist insurgents, whose regime remains in power. GEOGRAPHY Largely forested mountains, broadening in the north to a plateau. Lowlands along the Mekong Valley. CLIMATE Monsoon rains September–May. The rest of the year is hot and dry.
THE ECONOMY One of world’s least developed nations. Poor infrastructure. Gold, copper, electricity, timber, garments, and coffee are exported. Levels of foreign investment are rising. 0
CHINA
100 km
0
100 miles
Phôngsali MYANMAR (BURMA) Houayxay M ekon g
VIETNAM Xam Nua Louangphabang
Xaignabouli THAILAND Ban Naxon
Xiangkhoang Pakxan on ek
VIENTIANE
M
g
PEOPLE & SOCIETY There are over 60 ethnic groups. Lowland Laotians (Lao Loum) live along the Mekong River and are rice farmers. Upland and highland Laotians (Lao Theung and Lao Soung) traditionally employ environmentally damaging slash-and-burn farming, and grow illegal cash crops (notably opium). Government efforts to reform these practices are resisted.
THAILAND
Thakhèk Khanthabouli
Muang Khôngxédôn
Salavan Pakxé
INSIGHT: Three small Laotian kingdoms were unified under French control in 1899
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Lao People’s Democratic
Republic DATE OF FORMATION: 1953 CAPITAL: Vientiane POPULATION: 6.32 million TOTAL AREA: 91,428 sq. miles (236,800 sq. km) DENSITY: 71 people per sq. mile
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
CAMBODIA
LANGUAGES: Lao*, Mon-Khmer, other RELIGIONS: Buddhist 85%,
other (including animist) 15% ETHNIC MIX: Lao Loum 66%, Lao Theung 30%, Lao Soung 2%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: One-party state CURRENCY: New kip = 100 at
256
EUROPE
Latvia Latvia lies on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. Like its Baltic neighbors, it regained independence from Moscow in 1991, and joined the EU and NATO in 2004.
GEOGRAPHY A flat coastal plain which is deeply indented by the Gulf of Riga. Poor drainage creates many bogs and swamps in the forested interior. CLIMATE Temperate, with warm summers and cold winters. There is steady rainfall throughout the year. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Latvians make up just over half of the population and are mostly Lutheran. They have been officially favored by the state since 1991 over the largely Orthodox Christian Russian minority. Latvian was declared the only official language in 2000 and has been used exclusively in schools since 2004. This discrimination has strained relations with neighboring Russia. Women enjoy full equality. The divorce rate is high.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Latvia DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Riga POPULATION: 2.25 million TOTAL AREA: 24,938 sq. miles
(64,589 sq. km) DENSITY: 90 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Services sector now accounts for over 70% of GDP. EU’s fastest-growing economy in 2004–2006. High inflation has delayed prospect of joining euro. Global credit crunch brought Latvia to verge of bankruptcy in 2008: banks were bailed out and severe recession followed. INSIGHT: Ethnic Latvians are outnumbered by Russians in Riga ESTONIA
Baltic Sea
Ventspils
Liepája
Júrmala Saldus Dobele
Gulf of Riga
RUSS. FED.
Valmiera Césis
RIGA We Dv st er n in a
Jelgava
Jékabpils
Daugavpils
LITHUANIA
BELARUS
200m/656ft Sea Level
0
50 km
0
LANGUAGES: Latvian*, Russian RELIGIONS: Lutheran 55%, Catholic 24%,
other 12%, Orthodox Christian 9% ETHNIC MIX: Latvian 59%, Russian 29%,
Belarussian 4%, Ukrainian 3%, Polish 3%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Lats = 100 santimi
50 miles
ASIA
Lebanon
257
Once a vibrant cultural hotspot, Lebanon suffered badly from years of civil war and occupation until a 1989 peace deal. Reconstruction was reversed by Israeli bombardment in 2006. GEOGRAPHY Behind a narrow Mediterranean coastal plain, two parallel mountain ranges run the length of the country, separated by the fertile Beqaa Valley.
THE ECONOMY Much infrastructure destroyed. Instability undermines Beirut’s role as regional financial center. Wine and fruit production. High public debt.
CLIMATE Winters are mild and summers are hot, with high coastal humidity. Snow falls on high ground in winter.
INSIGHT: The Cedar of Lebanon has been the nation’s symbol for more than 2000 years
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Lebanon DATE OF FORMATION: 1941 CAPITAL: Beirut POPULATION: 4.22 million TOTAL AREA: 4015 sq. miles
(10,400 sq. km) DENSITY: 1069 people per sq. mile
Mediterranean Sea Tripoli
SYRIA
b
a
20 km 20 miles
n no ba Le
l
Joûnié
e
b
Baabda Saïda
El
Be
Nabatîyé Soûr ISRAEL
Baalbek Zahlé
e
BEIRUT
An ti-
L
i
0 0
n
Zgharta
J
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Politics has long been dominated by divisions between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims and the traditional ruling Maronite Christians. Power-sharing ended 14 years of civil war in 1989. Syria acted as power broker until made to withdraw in 2005. Israel attacked in 2006 in a botched bid to crush Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants. A huge gulf exists between the poor and a small, immensely rich elite. Lebanon hosts 420,000 Palestinian refugees.
Golan Heights
a qa
SYRIA
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Arabic*, French, Armenian, Assyrian RELIGIONS: Muslim 70%, Christian 30% ETHNIC MIX: Arab 94%, Armenian 4%, other 2% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Lebanese pound = 100 piastres
258
AFRICA
Lesotho The landlocked Kingdom of Lesotho is entirely surrounded by – and economically dependent on – South Africa, which even sent in troops to restore calm after rioting in 1998.
INSIGHT: Lesotho has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa – but one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS too
Hlotse Teyateyaneng
MASERU M
Mokhotlong
l
g
a
Mantsonyane
ke
Morija
a
Mafeteng
D
Mohales Hoek
ns
AFRICA
ber
SOUTH
i
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The overwhelming majority of people are Sotho, though there are some South Asians, Europeans, and Chinese. A strong sense of national identity has tended to minimize ethnic tensions. Many men work as migrant laborers in South Africa, leaving women to run households.
ledon Ca
t
CLIMATE Temperate. Summers are hot with torrential rain storms. Snow is frequent in the mountains in winter.
THE ECONOMY Dependent on South Africa. Water and energy exported from new Highlands Water Scheme. Subsistence farming. Garment exports struggle to compete. HIV/AIDS is depleting workforce.
u
GEOGRAPHY A high mountainous plateau, cut by valleys and ravines. The Maluti Range runs through the center. The Drakensberg Range lies to the east.
O
ran
r
ge Ri ver
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft
SOUTH AFRICA
0
50 km
0
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: English*, Sesotho*,
OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Lesotho DATE OF FORMATION: 1966 CAPITAL: Maseru POPULATION: 2.07 million TOTAL AREA: 11,720 sq. miles
isiZulu
and Asian 3%
(30,355 sq. km) DENSITY: 176 people per sq. mile
GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Loti = 100 lisente
RELIGIONS: Christian 90%,
traditional beliefs 10% ETHNIC MIX: Sotho 97%, European
50 miles
AFRICA
Liberia
259
Liberia, on Africa’s Atlantic coast, was founded as a republic of freed slaves. A brutal coup in 1980 and years of civil war have left gang violence and looting widespread. GEOGRAPHY A coastline of beaches and mangrove swamps rises to forested plateaus and highlands inland. CLIMATE High temperatures. There is only one wet season, from May to October, except in the extreme southeast.
THE ECONOMY War caused economic collapse. Rubber is key export. Bans now lifted on timber and diamond exports. Revenue from merchant shipping licenses. Debt burden. Income well below prewar levels. Vast iron ore reserves. SIERRA LEONE
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The key social distinction used to be between Americo-Liberians – descendants of freed slaves – and the indigenous tribal peoples. However, political assimilation and intermarriage have eased tensions. Intertribal tension is now a much more serious problem, fueling the civil war which ravaged the country from 1990 to 2003. INSIGHT: Liberia is named after the people liberated from slavery who arrived from the US in the 1800s
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Liberia DATE OF FORMATION: 1847 CAPITAL: Monrovia POPULATION: 3.96 million TOTAL AREA: 43,000 sq. miles
(111,370 sq. km) DENSITY: 106 people per sq. mile
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Voinjama GUINEA
Tubmanburg
CÔTE D'IVOIRE (IVORY COAST)
Gbanga
Robertsport
MONROVIA Harbel ATLANTIC OCEAN
Zwedru
Buchanan
Greenville
0 0
50 km
Harper
50 miles
LANGUAGES: Kpelle, Vai, Bassa, Kru, Grebo, Kissi, Gola, Loma, English* RELIGIONS: Christian 68%, traditional beliefs 18%, Muslim 14% ETHNIC MIX: Indigenous tribes (16 main groups) 95%, Americo-Liberians 5% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Liberian dollar = 100 cents
260
AFRICA
Libya Situated on north Africa’s Mediterranean coast, Libya was declared a revolutionary state in 1969 by Colonel Gaddafi, who promotes Islam, African unity, and a communal lifestyle.
CLIMATE Hot and arid. The coastal area has a temperate climate, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Great Socialist People’s
Libyan Arab Jamahariyah DATE OF FORMATION: 1951 CAPITAL: Tripoli POPULATION: 6.42 million TOTAL AREA: 679,358 sq. miles (1,759,540 sq. km)
INSIGHT: 90% of Libya is still desert, despite grand irrigation projects Az Záwiyah TUNISIA
Mediterranean Sea Al Bayçá’ ∏ubruq
TRIPOLI
Mi§rátah
Gharyán
Khalíj Surt
Surt
Ghadámis
Sabhá Ghát
S
L i b y a n D e s e r t
I d h á n M u r z u q
a
h
a
Banghází
EGYPT
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most Libyans are of Arab and Berber origin. Once a nation of nomads and livestock herders, it is almost 80% urban. Revolution wiped out private enterprise and the middle classes. Jews and European settlers were banished. Years of political marginalization and sanctions ended after Libya offered compensation for terrorist bombings. The voluntary ending of its Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) program was also welcomed by the West.
THE ECONOMY Oil is key export. Dates, olives, and fruit grow in oases, but most food is imported. Corruption and mismanagement. High inflation.
ALGERIA
GEOGRAPHY Apart from the coastal strip and a mountain range in the south, Libya is desert or semidesert. Natural oases provide the agricultural land.
r
Al Kufrah
a
NIGER CHAD 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level Below Sea Level
SUDAN 0
200 km
0
200 miles
DENSITY: 9 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Arabic*, Tuareg RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 97%,
other 3% ETHNIC MIX: Arab and Berber 95%,
other 5% GOVERNMENT: One-party state CURRENCY: Libyan dinar = 1000 dirhams
EUROPE
261
Liechtenstein Perched in the Alps between Switzerland and Austria, the state of Liechtenstein became an independent principality of the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. It has close links with Switzerland.
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Principality’s role as a financial center accounts for its many foreign residents (a third of the population). Half of the workforce are cross-border commuters. Living standards are high, with few social tensions. Linked by a customs union since 1924, Switzerland handles Liechtenstein’s foreign affairs and defense issues.
DATE OF FORMATION: 1719 CAPITAL: Vaduz POPULATION: 35,000 TOTAL AREA: 62 sq. miles
(160 sq. km)
VADUZ SWITZERLAND Triesenberg
Triesen
al
Liechtenstein
AUSTRIA
Schaan
nat
OFFICIAL NAME: Principality of
Mauren Bendern Planken
mi
FACTFILE
Ruggell
Sa
INSIGHT: Women in Liechtenstein obtained the vote only in 1984
ine
l
p
Balzers 0 0
A
CLIMATE Warm, dry summers. Winters are cold, with heavy snow in the mountains from December to March.
THE ECONOMY Banking secrecy (now modified) and low taxes help attract foreign investment. Anti-money-laundering rules are recent. Diversified exports include precision instruments, dental products, and chemicals.
Rh
GEOGRAPHY The upper Rhine Valley covers the western third of the country. The mountains and narrow valleys of the eastern Alps make up the remainder.
4 km 4 miles
DENSITY: 565 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: German*, Italian,
Alemannish dialect RELIGIONS: Catholic 81%, other 19% ETHNIC MIX: Liechtensteiner 66%, other 18%, Swiss 10%, Austrian 6% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Swiss franc = 100 centimes
s
262
EUROPE
Lithuania Lying on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, Lithuania is the largest of the Baltic states. The first Soviet republic to declare independence from Moscow in 1991, it joined the EU in 2004.
GEOGRAPHY Mostly flat with moors, bogs, and an intensively farmed central lowland. Numerous lakes and forested sandy ridges in the east. CLIMATE Coastal location moderates continental extremes. Cold winters, cool summers, and steady rainfall. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Homogeneous population, with Lithuanians forming a large majority. Only 4000 Jews, known as Litvaks, remain in Lithuania. Strong Roman Catholic tradition and historic links with Poland. There are better relations among ethnic groups than in other Baltic states and interethnic marriages are fairly common. However, ethnic Russians and Poles see a threat from “Lithuanianization.” A large income gap has grown since independence.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Lithuania DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Vilnius POPULATION: 3.29 million TOTAL AREA: 25,174 sq. miles
(65,200 sq. km) DENSITY: 131 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY High-tech and heavy industries: engineering, shipbuilding, and food processing. Litas pegged to euro. High inflation has delayed euro’s adoption. Recession in 2009 after strong growth. INSIGHT: The “amber coast” of Lithuania produces most of the world’s amber – fossilized resin LATVIA Viek#niai Tel#iai
Baltic Sea
‹iauliai Plungë Klaipëda Skaudvilë
Panevëªys
Ukmergë Neman
Kaunas
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VILNIUS
BELARUS
Alytus POLAND
Druskininkai
200m/656ft Sea Level
0 0
LANGUAGES: Lithuanian*, Russian RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 83%,
other 12%, Protestant 5% ETHNIC MIX: Lithuanian 85%,
Polish 6%, Russian 5%, other 3%, Belarussian 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Litas = 100 centu
50 km 50 miles
EUROPE
Luxembourg
263
Part of the plateau of the Ardennes in western Europe, Luxembourg is one of Europe’s richest states. A tax haven and banking center, it is also home to key EU institutions. GEOGRAPHY Dense Ardennes forests in the north, with a low, open plateau to the south. Undulating terrain throughout. CLIMATE The climate is moist, with warm summers and mild winters. Snow is common only in the Ardennes.
THE ECONOMY Traditional industries such as steelmaking have given way to the banking and service sectors. Low taxes and banking secrecy laws attract foreign investors. 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level s
Clervaux n
e
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Ethnic tensions are rare, despite a large proportion of foreigners (over a third of residents). Integration has been straightforward; most are fellow western Europeans and Catholics, mainly from Italy and Portugal. Low unemployment and high salaries promote stability. Divorce rates are rising and marriage is becoming less common.
n
e d
r A
Echternach
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg DATE OF FORMATION: 1867 CAPITAL: Luxembourg-Ville POPULATION: 486,200 TOTAL AREA: 998 sq. miles (2586 sq. km) DENSITY: 487 people per sq. mile
lle
Mos
e
Mersch BELGIUM
LUXEMBOURG
Pétange
Differdange Esch-sur -Alzette
INSIGHT: Luxembourg’s capital is home to around 2000 investment funds and over 150 banks
GERMANY Ettelbrück
Dudelange FRANCE
0 0
10 km 10 miles
LANGUAGES: Luxembourgish*, German*, French* RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 97%, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, and Protestant 3% ETHNIC MIX: Luxembourger 62%, foreign residents 38% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
264
EUROPE
Macedonia Landlocked Macedonia was hit hard by the sanctions placed on its northern trading partners in the mid-1990s, and by violent conflict with ethnic Albanians in 2001.
CLIMATE Continental climate with wet springs and dry autumns. Heavy snowfalls in northern mountains.
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Macedonia DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Skopje POPULATION: 2.04 million TOTAL AREA: 9781 sq. miles
(25,333 sq. km) DENSITY: 206 people per sq. mile
0
50 km
0
50 miles SERBIA
BULGARIA Kumanovo
SKOPJE
Tetovo
Koâani Gostivar
Veles
‹tip Strumica
Kiâevo Prilep
Va
r
r
FACTFILE
INSIGHT: Ohrid is the deepest lake in Europe at 964 ft (294 m)
da
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Slav Macedonians are mostly Orthodox Christians, with some Muslims. Officially, Muslim Albanians account for 25% of the population, but they claim to number a third. In 2001 Albanian militants fought a bitter war against the government. A peace deal promised greater equality. A major stumbling block to EU and NATO accession is Greece’s objection to the name Macedonia, in order to prevent any possibility of claims to historic “Macedonian” lands in north Greece.
THE ECONOMY Steel, minerals, clothing, shoes, and tobacco exported. Slow transition to market economy. Organized crime and large gray economy. Investment boosted by EU candidate status.
ALBANIA
GEOGRAPHY Mainly mountainous or hilly, with deep river basins in the center. Plains in the northeast and southwest.
Lake Ohrid
Ohrid
Bitola
Lake Prespa
GREECE
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Macedonian*, Albanian* RELIGIONS: Orthodox Christian 59%,
Muslim 26%, other 11%, Catholic 4% ETHNIC MIX: Macedonian 64%, Albanian 25%,
other 5%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2% GOVERNMENT: Mixed presidential–parliamentary system CURRENCY: Macedonian denar = 100 deni
AFRICA
Madagascar
265
Lying off east Africa in the Indian Ocean, the former French colony of Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island. Power struggles erupted onto the streets in 2002 and 2009. GEOGRAPHY More than two-thirds of the country forms a savanna-covered plateau, which drops in the east through rainforests to the coast. CLIMATE Tropical and often hit by cyclones. Monsoons affect the east coast. The southwest is much drier. PEOPLE & SOCIETY People are Malay-Indonesian in origin, intermixed with later migrants from the African mainland. The main ethnic division is between the Merina of the central plateau and the poorer côtier (coastal) peoples. The Merina were the country’s historic rulers, and remain the social elite. INSIGHT: 80% of Madagascar’s plants and many of its animal species are found nowhere else
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Madagascar DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Antananarivo POPULATION: 219.6 million TOTAL AREA: 226,656 sq. miles
(587,040 sq. km) DENSITY: 87 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Most people are farmers. Cash crops are vanilla, coffee, and cloves. Garments and shrimp also exported. Political crises deter investors. 0 0
200 km 200 miles 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Antsiraùana Sambava Analalava Mahajanga Marovoay Toamasina
ANTANANARIVO Antsirabe Morondava
Ambositra Fianarantsoa INDIAN OCEAN
M o z a mb iq ue C ha nne l
Toliara
Farafangana
Amboasary
LANGUAGES: Malagasy*, French* RELIGIONS: Traditional beliefs 52%,
Christian 41%, Muslim 7% ETHNIC MIX: Other Malay 46%, Merina 26%, Betsimisaraka 15%, Betsileo 12%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Ariary = 5 iraimbilanja
266
AFRICA
Malawi A former colony of the UK, Malawi lies landlocked in southeast Africa, following the Great Rift Valley. Its name means “the land where the sun is reflected in the water like fire.”
GEOGRAPHY Lake Nyasa takes up one-fifth of the landscape. Highlands lie west of the lake. Much of the land is covered by forests and savanna.
THE ECONOMY Mainly subsistence farming. Tobacco accounts for 60% of export earnings. Tea and sugar are grown. Drought and corruption are problems.
CLIMATE Mainly subtropical. The south is hot and humid. Highlands are cooler.
100 km
0
100 miles
TANZANIA
Mzuzu Euthini ZAMBIA
t Great Rif
LILONGWE
Salima ll
Dedza
Chisumulti Likoma (to Malawi) Lake MOZAMBIQUE Nyasa
Va
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most Malawians share a common Bantu origin. Ethnicity has not been exploited for political ends as has happened in neighboring states. Four out of five people live in poverty. The election in 1994 of a member of the Muslim minority as president signaled the failure of previous attempts to enforce Protestant dominance.
0 Karonga
e
y
Mangochi
MOZAMBIQUE Zomba Blantyre
INSIGHT: Lake Nyasa is 353 miles (568 km) in length and contains at least 500 species of fish
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Malawi DATE OF FORMATION: 1964 CAPITAL: Lilongwe POPULATION: 15.3 million TOTAL AREA: 45,745 sq. miles
(118,480 sq. km) DENSITY: 420 people per sq. mile
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Nsanje
LANGUAGES: Chewa, Lomwe, Yao, Ngoni, English* RELIGIONS: Protestant 55%, Muslim 20%, Catholic 20%, traditional beliefs 5% ETHNIC MIX: Bantu 99%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Malawi kwacha = 100 tambala
ASIA
Malaysia
267
Malaysia stretches 1240 miles (2000 km) across southeast Asia from the Malay peninsula to Sabah in eastern Borneo. Federated in 1963, it included Singapore for two years. GEOGRAPHY The Malay Peninsula has central mountains, an eastern coastal belt, and fertile western plains. Swampy coastal plains rise to mountains on Borneo.
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The key distinction is between Malays (Bumiputras, literally “sons of the soil”) and the Chinese, who traditionally controlled most economic activity. Since the 1970s, Malays have been favored for education and jobs, in order to address this imbalance.
CLIMATE Warm equatorial. Rainfall always heavy, but with distinct rainy seasons.
THE ECONOMY Successful industrial base include manufacturing and heavy industry. Tourism is a major earner. Leading producer of palm oil, tin, and tropical hardwoods.
INSIGHT: Malaysia is southeast Asia’s major tourist destination, with over 20 million visitors a year
THAILAND Kangar Kota Bharu George Town Kuala Terengganu Taiping Malay
Peninsula KUALA LUMPUR PUTRAJAYA Klang Mersing
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
SINGAPORE
Kudat
South China Sea Kepulauan Natuna
Natuna Sea
Kota Kinabalu BRUNEI Miri
OFFICIAL NAME: Federation of Malaysia DATE OF FORMATION: 1963 CAPITAL: Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya POPULATION: 27.5 million TOTAL AREA: 127,316 sq. miles
(329,750 sq. km) DENSITY: 217 people per sq. mile
Keningau
Sabah
Bintulu Sibu
Kuching
B o r n e o Sarawak INDONESIA
Sri Aman
I NDO NESIA
FACTFILE
Sulu Sea
Sandakan
INDONESIA
0 0
100 km 100 miles
LANGUAGES: Bahasa Malaysia*, Malay, Chinese, Tamil, English RELIGIONS: Muslim 53%, Buddhist 19%, Chinese faiths 12%, other 9%, Christian 7% ETHNIC MIX: Malay 50%, Chinese 25%, indigenous tribes 11%, other 14% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Ringgit = 100 sen
268
ASIA
Maldives Set in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka, the Maldives is an archipelago of 1191 small coral islands, or atolls. 200 are inhabited. The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word “atolu.”
GEOGRAPHY Consists of low-lying islands and coral atolls. The larger ones are covered in lush, tropical vegetation. CLIMATE Tropical. Rain falls throughout the year, but is heaviest June–November, during the monsoon. Violent storms occasionally hit the northern islands. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Maldivians, who are all Sunni Muslim, are descended from Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, and black ancestors. About 25% of the population live on Male’. Tourism has grown on separate resort islands away from residents. Politics has been controlled by a small group of influential families. However, a young elite pushed for reform: parties were legalized in 2005, and the presidential election in 2008 brought in a new regime.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Maldives DATE OF FORMATION: 1965 CAPITAL: Male’ POPULATION: 309,400 TOTAL AREA: 116 sq. miles
(300 sq. km) DENSITY: 2667 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY The fluctuating tourist industry is the economic mainstay. Fish, especially tuna, are Ihavandippolhu the main export. Atoll Construction boom to repair 2004 tsunami damage. Faadhippolhu Atoll
INSIGHT: The islands, which all lie below 4 ft (1.2 m), are threatened by rising sea levels, brought about by global warming and climatic changes
Sea Level 0 0
Horsburgh Atoll
Ari Atoll
Male’ Atoll
MALE’ Felidhu Atoll Mulakatholhu Atoll
Kolhumadulu Atoll Hadhdhunmathi Atoll n nel O n e a n d H a l f D e g re e Ch a North Huvadhu I N D I A N Atoll O C E A N South Huvadhu Atoll Equator
100 km 100 miles
Addu Atoll
Gan
LANGUAGES: Dhivehi* (Maldivian), Sinhala, Tamil, Arabic RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 100% ETHNIC MIX: All Maldivians are of Arab– Sinhalese–Malay descent GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Rufiyaa = 100 laari
AFRICA
269
Mali A former French colony, Mali is landlocked in the heart of west Africa. The 1991 coup ended the 23-year dictatorship of Moussa Traoré and ushered in multiparty elections from 1992. GEOGRAPHY The northern half of the country lies in the Sahara. The inland delta of the Niger River flows through a grassy savanna region in the south. CLIMATE In the south, intensely hot, dry weather precedes the westerly rains. The north is almost rainless.
THE ECONOMY Widespread poverty. Most people are farmers, herders, or river fishermen. Less than 2% of land can be cultivated. High-quality cotton, gold, and livestock account for 80% of exports. Vulnerable to drought.
ALGERIA MAURITANIA
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Mali DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Bamako POPULATION: 13 million TOTAL AREA: 478,764 sq. miles
(1,240,000 sq. km) DENSITY: 28 people per sq. mile
Tombouctou eg a
AL
FACTFILE
Nig e r S en
EG
INSIGHT: Tombouctou (Timbuktu) was the center of the 14th-century Malinké trading empire
Adrar des Ifôghas
SEN
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most people live in the southern savanna region. The Bambara tribe are culturally and politically dominant. A few nomadic Fulani and Tuareg herders travel the northern plains. There is tension between the peoples of the south and Tuareg in the north. Malian women have little status.
S a h a r a
Gao
Mopti
l Kayes
BAMAKO
Ségou Koulikoro
NIGER
BURKINA
Sikasso GUINEA
0 0
200 km 200 miles
CÔTE D'IVOIRE (IVORY COAST)
500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Bambara, Fulani, Senufo, Soninke, French* RELIGIONS: Muslim 80%, traditional beliefs 18%, Christian 1%, other 1% ETHNIC MIX: Bambara 32%, other 33%, Fulani 14%, Senufu 12%, Soninka 9% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
270
EUROPE
Malta The densely populated Maltese archipelago lies between Africa and Europe. Controlled throughout its history by successive colonial powers, it gained independence from the UK in 1964.
GEOGRAPHY The main island of Malta has low hills and a ragged coastline with numerous harbors, bays, sandy beaches, and rocky coves. The island of Gozo is more densely vegetated.
THE ECONOMY Tourism provides 30% of GDP. Joined eurozone in 2008. Developing offshore banking, high-tech industry. Semiconductors exported. Most goods have to be imported.
CLIMATE Mediterranean climate. There are many hours of sunshine all year round, with very little rainfall.
INSIGHT: The Maltese language has Phoenician origins but features Arabic etymology and intonation
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Over the centuries, the Maltese have been subject to Arab, Sicilian, Spanish, French, and British influences. Today, the population is socially conservative and devoutly Roman Catholic – on a percentage basis, risen more so than virtually any other nation. Unemployment is high, particularly for women. Divorce is banned. Illegal migration from Africa has increased since Malta joined the EU in 2004.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Malta DATE OF FORMATION: 1964 CAPITAL: Valletta POPULATION: 408,700 TOTAL AREA: 122 sq. miles
(316 sq. km) DENSITY: 3296 people per sq. mile
0
Victoria
5 km
0
Gozo Comino
5 miles
Mediterranean Sea Buèibba Mellieha St Julian's Sliema Msida VALLETTA Mosta Malta Qormi Hamrun Luqa Marsaxlokk Rabat Biræebbuèa Mediterranean Sea 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Maltese*, English* RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 98%, other
and nonreligious 2% ETHNIC MIX: Maltese 96%,
other 4% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary
system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
271
Marshall Islands Under US rule as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands until independence in 1986, the Marshall Islands comprises a group of 34 widely scattered atolls. GEOGRAPHY Narrow coral rings with sandy beaches enclosing lagoons. Those in the south have thicker vegetation. Kwajalein is the world’s largest atoll. CLIMATE Tropical oceanic, cooled year round by northeast trade winds. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Majuro, the capital city and commercial center, is home to almost half the population. Tensions are high due to poor living conditions. Life on the outlying islands is still traditional, based around subsistence agriculture and fishing. Society is matrilineal, with land and titles handed down through the mother’s clan.
THE ECONOMY Almost totally dependent on US aid and the rent paid by the US for its missile base on Kwajalein Atoll. High unemployment. Revenue from licenses to fish in Marshallese waters for tuna. Copra and coconut oil are the only significant agricultural exports. All land under 100m/328ft
Bokaak
P A C I F I C
O C E A N
Rongelap
Enewetak
Ratak Chain
Bikini
Wotje
Likiep
Ujelang
Maloelap
Kwajalein
Ralik Chain
MAJURO
Jabat
Majuro
Jaluit
Narikrik
INSIGHT: In 1954, Bikini Atoll was the site for the testing of the largest US H-bomb – the 18–22 megaton Bravo
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of the Marshall
Islands DATE OF FORMATION: 1986 CAPITAL: Majuro POPULATION: 54,100 TOTAL AREA: 70 sq. miles (181 sq. km) DENSITY: 733 people per sq. mile
Ebon
0 0
200 km 200 miles
LANGUAGES: Marshallese*, English*, Japanese, German RELIGIONS: Protestant 90%, Roman Catholic 8%, other 2% ETHNIC MIX: Micronesian 97%, other 3% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: US dollar = 100 cents
272
AFRICA
Mauritania Two-thirds of Mauritania’s territory is desert – the only productive land is that drained by the Senegal River. The country has taken a strongly Arab direction since 1964.
GEOGRAPHY The Sahara, barren except for some scattered oases, covers the north. Savanna lands lie to the south. CLIMATE The climate is generally hot and dry, aggravated by the dusty harmattan wind. Summer rain in the south, virtually none in the north. PEOPLE & SOCIETY The majority Maures control political and economic life. Family solidarity among nomadic peoples is particularly strong. Ethnic tension centers on the oppression of the sizable black minority by Maures. Tens of thousands of blacks are estimated to be in illegal slavery.
THE ECONOMY Agriculture and herding. Iron, copper, and gold mining. World’s largest gypsum deposits. Offshore oil from 2006. Rich fishing grounds. 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
ALGERIA
WESTERN SAHARA
S
ATLANTIC OCEAN
a
h
a
r
a MALI
Nouâdhibou
Aωr Tidjikja
NOUAKCHOTT Rosso S en
eg
Kaédi al
SENEGAL
INSIGHT: Slavery officially became illegal in Mauritania in 1980, but de facto slavery still persists
FACTFILE
Zouérat
Néma Kiffa MALI 0 0
200 km 200 miles
OFFICIAL NAME: Islamic Republic
DENSITY: 8 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Hassaniyah Arabic*, Wolof,
of Mauritania
French
DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Nouakchott POPULATION: 3.29 million TOTAL AREA: 397,953 sq. miles
RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 100% ETHNIC MIX: Maure 81%, Wolof 7%,
(1,030,700 sq. km)
Tukolor 5%, other 4%, Soninka 3% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Ouguiya = 5 khoums
AFRICA
Mauritius
273
The islands that make up Mauritius lie in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. They have enjoyed considerable economic success following recent industrial diversification and expansion. GEOGRAPHY The volcanic main island of Mauritius is ringed by coral reefs, and rises from the coast to a fertile central plateau. The outer islands – Rodriguez, the Agalega Islands, and the Cargados Carajos Shoals – lie some 300 miles (500 km) to the north. CLIMATE Warm and humid. Tropical storms are frequent December–March, the hottest and wettest months. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most people are descendants of laborers brought over from India in the 19th century. A small minority of French descent form the wealthiest group. Creoles (descendants of African slaves) complain of discrimination. Literacy is high. Health care is free. Criminal offenses are usually traffic-related; little crime on outer islands.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Mauritius DATE OF FORMATION: 1968 CAPITAL: Port Louis POPULATION: 1.29 million TOTAL AREA: 718 sq. miles (1860 sq. km) DENSITY: 1794 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: French Creole, Hindi, Urdu,
THE ECONOMY Clothing manufacture, tourism, and sugar. Loss of preferential trade terms for sugar and textiles. Offshore financial center. New outsourcing and ICT industries. Most food is imported. INSIGHT: The islands form part of the Mascarene Archipelago – once a land bridge between Asia and Africa 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Ile Plate
Rodrigues
Port Mathurin
Triolet
Grand Baie Pamplemousses
PORT LOUIS INDIAN OCEAN Curepipe Mahébourg Bel Ombre
0 Souillac
10 km
0
Tamil, Chinese, English*, French RELIGIONS: Hindu 52%, Catholic 26%, Muslim 17%, other 3%, Protestant 2% ETHNIC MIX: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, other 5% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Mauritian rupee = 100 cents
10 miles
274
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Mexico Mexico stretches from the US border southward into the ancient Aztec and Mayan heartlands. Independence from Spain came in 1836. One in five Mexicans lives in the sprawling capital.
GEOGRAPHY Coastal plains along the Pacific and Atlantic seaboards rise to a high arid central plateau. To the east and west are the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. Limestone lowlands form the projecting Yucatan peninsula. CLIMATE The plateau and high mountains are warm for much of the year. Pacific coast is tropical: storms occur mostly March– December. Northwest is dry.
(1,972,550 sq. km DENSITY: 149 people per sq. mile
Chihuahua
Monterrey
San Luis Potosí León Guadalajara
PACIFIC OCEAN 0 0
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Ciudad Juárez e nd ra oG Ri dre Ma ra a l S ier rient O re ad M al r r a nt S ie ccide O
OFFICIAL NAME: United Mexican States DATE OF FORMATION: 1836 CAPITAL: Mexico City POPULATION: 110 million TOTAL AREA: 761,602 sq. miles
Tijuana
a rni lifo Ca
FACTFILE
INSIGHT: More people cross the US–Mexican border each year – illegally or legally – than any other border in the world
ja Ba
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most Mexicans are mestizos of Spanish–Amerindian descent. Rural Amerindians are largely segregated from Hispanic society and most live in poverty, though the state promotes their culture. The Zapatista movement backs indigenous rights. Few women in maledominated politics and business. Narcotics-related violent crime is rising.
THE ECONOMY One of the world's largest oil producers. Corn, fruit, vegetables, sugar are cash crops. NAFTA has boosted exports, but exposes farmers to subsidized US competition. Huge wealth disaprity. Swine flu crippled economy in 2009.
500 km
Gulf of Mexico
MEXICO CITY Puebla
Acapulco
S ierra Madr e d el Sur
Mérida Yucatan Peninsula
BEL. GUAT.
500 miles
LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Nahuatl, Mayan, Zapotec, Mixtec, Otomi, Totonac, other RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 88%, other 7%, Protestant 5% ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 60%, Amerindian 30%, European 9%, other 1% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Mexican peso = 100 centavos
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
275
Micronesia The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), situated in the western Pacific, comprise 607 islands and atolls grouped into four main island states: Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk, and Yap.
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Micronesians are physically, culturally, and linguistically diverse. Melanesians live on Yap, Polynesians in Pohnpei. The supply of electricity and running water is limited. Society is based on matrilineal clans.
GEOGRAPHY Mixture of high volcanic islands with forested interiors, and low-lying coral atolls. Some of the islands have coastal mangrove swamps. CLIMATE Tropical, with high humidity. There is very heavy rainfall outside the January– March dry season.
THE ECONOMY Dependent on US aid. Fishing licenses are a key source of foreign revenue. Tourism, fishing, betel nuts, copra are economic mainstays. Trust fund created to reduce aid reliance.
INSIGHT: Chuuk’s lagoon contains the sunken wrecks of over 100 Japanese ships and 270 planes from World War II
Yap
Philippine Sea Sorol
Ngulu
Murilo
Lamotrek
Chuuk Is.
Olimarao
Weno
Woleai
Carol ine
Pulusuk
I slands O C E A N
Pohnpei Is. Oroluk
Nama
Satawan
P A C I F I C
200m/656ft Sea Level
Hall Is.
Namonuito
PALIKIR
Pohnpei
Mortlock Islands Nukuoro
Kosrae
0 0
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Federated States of
Micronesia DATE OF FORMATION: 1986 CAPITAL: Palikir (Pohnpei Island) POPULATION: 110,700 TOTAL AREA: 271 sq. miles (702 sq. km) DENSITY: 408 people per sq. mile
200 km 200 miles
LANGUAGES: Trukese, Pohnpeian, Kosraean, Yapese, English* RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 48%, other 2% ETHNIC MIX: Chuukese 49%, Pohnpeian 24%, other 19%, Kosraean 6%, Asian 2% GOVERNMENT: Nonparty system CURRENCY: US dollar = 100 cents
276
EUROPE
Moldova The most densely populated of the former Soviet republics, Moldova has strong ethnic, linguistic, and cultural links with Romania, but relations with Russia remain paramount.
GEOGRAPHY Steppes and hilly plains are drained by the Dniester and Prut rivers. CLIMATE Warm summers and relatively mild winters. Moderate rainfall is evenly spread throughout the year.
THE ECONOMY One of the two poorest countries in Europe. Mainly agricultural: produces wine, tobacco, fruit. Food processing and textiles. Depends on Russia for raw materials, fuel, exports. Instability. Dn ie
UKRAINE Soroca Flore∞ti Dnie
Bâlπi
ut
ste
Orhei
r
INSIGHT: Vast underground wine vaults contain entire “streets” of bottles built into rock quarries
Pr
PEOPLE & SOCIETY A shared heritage with Romania defines national identity, though in 1994 Moldovans voted against possible reunification with Romania. Most of the population is engaged in intensive agriculture. Transnistria is a breakaway state along the east bank of the Dniester, home to a largely ethnic Slav population. The Gagauz, in the south, have accepted autonomy.
ste
r
Edineπ Rî∞cani
Rîbniπa Dubâsari Reservoir
TRANSNISTRIA (disputed) Tiraspol Tighina (Bendery)
CHIfiINÂU ROMANIA Comrat
Cahul
0
50 km
0
50 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Moldovan*, Ukrainian,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Moldova DATE OF FORMATION: 1991 CAPITAL: Chisinau POPULATION: 3.6 million TOTAL AREA: 13,067 sq. miles
Russian
(33,843 sq. km) DENSITY: 277 people per sq. mile
200m/656ft Sea Level
RELIGIONS: Orthodox Christian 98%,
Jewish 2% ETHNIC MIX: Moldovan 64%, Ukrainian 14%,
Russian 13%, Gagauz 4%, other 5% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Moldovan leu = 100 bani
EUROPE
Monaco
277
Monaco is a tiny principality on the Côte d’Azur. Its destiny changed radically when the casino was opened in 1863. Today, it promotes its image as an upmarket, glamorous destination. GEOGRAPHY A rocky promontory overlooking a narrow coastal strip that has been enlarged through land reclamation. CLIMATE Mediterranean. Summers are hot and dry; days with 12 hours of sunshine are not uncommon. Winters are mild and sunny. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Less than 20% of residents are Monégasques. Around a third are French, the rest Italian, American, British, Belgian, and many others. Nationals enjoy considerable privileges, including housing subsidies to protect them from Monaco’s high property prices, and the right of first refusal before a job can be offered to a foreigner. Women have equal status, but only acquired the vote in 1962.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Principality of Monaco DATE OF FORMATION: 1861 CAPITAL: Monaco-Ville POPULATION: 32,000 TOTAL AREA: 0.75 sq. miles
(1.95 sq. km) DENSITY: 42,667 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Tourism, gambling, financial services. Banking secrecy laws and taxhaven conditions attract foreign investment. Close links and customs union with France (but not in EU). No resources: depends on imports. INSIGHT: High-profile social and sporting events attract large crowds each spring, including the Rose Ball, Tennis Open, and Grand Prix
Lycée l'Annonciade
F R A N C E Musée Nation Hospitalier Grace
La Condamine Grand Prix Circuit
Palais du Prince Stade Louis II
Fontvieille
Larvotto
Casino
Centre de Congrès
Monte-Carlo Sporting Club d'Eté
Monte-Carlo
Port de Monaco Ministère d'Etat Côte d'Azur Cathédrale Musée Océanographique
Mediterranean Sea
0 0
1000 m 1500 yds
LANGUAGES: French*, Italian, Monégasque RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 89%,
Protestant 6%, other 5% ETHNIC MIX: French 32%, other 29%, Italian 20%, Monégasque 19% GOVERNMENT: Mixed monarchical– parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
278
ASIA
Mongolia Landlocked between Russia and China, Mongolia is a huge, isolated, and sparsely populated nation. Over two-thirds of the country is part of the Gobi Desert.
GEOGRAPHY A mountainous steppe plateau in the north, with lakes in the north and west. The desert region of the Gobi dominates the south. CLIMATE Continental. Mild summers and long, dry, very cold winters, with heavy snowfall. Temperatures can drop as low as –22°F (–30°C).
(1,565,000 sq. km) DENSITY: 4 people per sq. mile
Sühbaatar Darhan
Mörön Hovd Erdenet i Altay M
a
OFFICIAL NAME: Mongolia DATE OF FORMATION: 1924 CAPITAL: Ulan Bator POPULATION: 2.67 million TOTAL AREA: 604,247 sq. miles
RUSSIAN FEDERATION Ölgiy lt
FACTFILE
INSIGHT: Horseracing, wrestling, and archery are the national sports
A
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Mongolia was unified by Genghis Khan in 1206 and was later absorbed into Manchu China. A majority of ethnic Mongolians live within China in Inner Mongolia. Tibetan Buddhism dominates. The traditional, nomadic way of life has been eroded as urban migration continues, spurred by ferocious winters, known as zud, which can devastate the rural economy.
THE ECONOMY Rich deposits of oil, coal, copper, uranium, and other minerals remain largely untapped. Cashmere exports. Democracy, from 1990, brought a shift toward a market economy, but also rising poverty. State involvement in mining is an issue. Agriculture uses 40% of workforce, mainly as herders.
ou
nt
ULAN BATOR
ai
ns
G CHINA 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft
o
Ke
rule
n
Choybalsan
Saynshand b i Dalandzadgad
0
400 km
0
400 miles
LANGUAGES: Khalkha Mongolian*, other RELIGIONS: Tibetan Buddhist 96%,
Muslim 4% ETHNIC MIX: Khalkh 82%, other 9%,
Kazakh 4%, Dorvod 3%, Bayad 2% GOVERNMENT: Mixed presidential– parliamentary system CURRENCY: Tugrik (tögrög) = 100 möngö
EUROPE
Montenegro
279
Perched on the Adriatic coast, this tiny republic became a separate state in 2006, after 88 years of federation with its neighbors in various forms of the state of Yugoslavia.
CLIMATE The lowlands have hot, dry summers and mild winters. Heavy snow in winter in the mountains.
THE ECONOMY Tourism (along Adriatic) drives growth. Bauxite reserves, aluminum industry. Economy dominated by black market; cigarette smuggling is rife. Return of foreign aid and investment. The 2007 accord with the EU is the first step toward eventual accession. BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most Montenegrins are Orthodox Christians. They speak a language closely related to Serbian, using the same Cyrillic script. Muslim Albanians, who make up 80% of the population of the southern Ulcinj region, supported independence and are now asking for autonomy.
SERBIA Pivsko Jezero
Bijelo Polje Piva S
in
CRO.
Herceg-Novi Tivat
Cetinje
Budva Adriatic Sea 0 0
20 km 20 miles
Ta
a
ric A lps Nik#iá
vi n
D ina
ja
INSIGHT: Dark forests once cloaked Montenegro’s mountains; its name means ”Black Mountain”
Pljevlja
ra
Berane
H a j l a Roªaje
im
GEOGRAPHY A narrow coastal strip on the Adriatic. Fertile lowland plains around Lake Scutari. Mountainous interior with deep canyons.
L
PODGORICA ALBANIA
Lake Scutari
Bar Ulcinj
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Montenegrin*, Serbian,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Montenegro DATE OF FORMATION: 2006 CAPITAL: Podgorica POPULATION: 624,200 TOTAL AREA: 5332 sq. miles
Albanian
(13,812 sq. km) DENSITY: 117 people per sq. mile
RELIGIONS: Orthodox Christian 74%, Muslim 18%, Catholic 4%, other 4% ETHNIC MIX: Montenegrin 43%, Serb 32%, other 12%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
280
AFRICA
Morocco Morocco is a former French colony in northwest Africa. Since 1975, it has occupied the territory of Western Sahara, the future of which is yet to be determined by UN-supervised referendum.
GEOGRAPHY Fertile coastal plain is interrupted in the east by the Rif Mountains. Atlas Mountain ranges to the south. Beyond lies the outer fringe of the Sahara.
THE ECONOMY Major exporter of phosphates. Investment in tourism and agriculture. Fishing. Relations with EU strained over illegal immigrants and cannabis trade.
CLIMATE Ranges from temperate and warm in the north, to semiarid in the south. Cooler in the mountains.
INSIGHT: Karueein University in Fès, founded in 859 CE, is the world’s oldest existing educational institution
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Around 30% of the population are descendants of original Berber inhabitants of north Africa, and live mainly in mountain villages. The Arab majority inhabits the lowlands. Morocco is unusual among Arab states in granting Jews religious freedom and civil rights. The king is spiritual leader and head of state. Islamists have gained influence in politics. Islamist militancy and the emergence of terrorist cells are of concern.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Morocco DATE OF FORMATION: 1956 CAPITAL: Rabat POPULATION: 32 million TOTAL AREA: 172,316 sq. miles
(446,300 sq. km) DENSITY: 186 people per sq. mile
Me di t erra n ea n S ea
Tanger Ceuta (to Spain) Melilla Tétouan (to Spain) Kénitra Oujda RABAT Fès Mohammedia Salé Casablanca Khouribga s Safi in ta Marrakech un o M Essaouira las AT LA N T IC O C E AN
At
Agadir A
tl -A nt i
WESTERN SAHARA (Occupied by Morocco)
as
0 0
Ouarzazate
ALGERIA
100 km 100 miles
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LANGUAGES: Arabic*, Tamazight, French RELIGIONS: Muslim (mainly Sunni) 99%,
other (mostly Christian) 1% ETHNIC MIX: Arab 70%, Berber 29%,
European 1% GOVERNMENT: Mixed monarchical–
parliamentary system CURRENCY: Mor. dirham = 100 centimes
AFRICA
281
Mozambique Mozambique lies on the southeast African coast. It was torn apart by a savage and devastating civil war between the Marxist government and a rebel faction between 1977 and 1992. GEOGRAPHY Largely a savanna-covered plateau. The coast is fringed by coral reefs and lagoons. The Zambezi River bisects the country. CLIMATE Tropical. Temperatures are hottest on the coast. Extremes of rainfall: drought and flood.
0 0
200 km 200 miles
TANZANIA
Rov
um
Pemba
Lake Nyasa
Lichinga
MALAWI
a
Lúrio
ZAMBIA
Nacala Lumbo Nampula
Lake Cahora Bassa
Tete Za
Quelimane
m
be
zi
ZIMBABWE
Mozambique Channel
Beira
INDIAN OCEAN Funhalouro
mp Li
Inhambane
opo
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Tensions exist between north and south, rather than between ethnic groups. Life is centered on the extended family. Polygamy is fairly common. The country is struggling with the legacy of a war that killed around a million people, and the effects of frequent floods and droughts. Half the population lives in abject poverty.
THE ECONOMY Extremely dependent on aid. Mineral potential. Cashew nuts, shrimp, cotton exported. Debt relief.
SOUTH AFRICA SWAZILAND
Xai-Xai
MAPUTO SOUTH AFRICA
INSIGHT: Maputo’s busy port serves Zimbabwe and South Africa
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Makua, Xitsonga, Sena, Lomwe,
OFFICIAL NAME: Rep. of Mozambique DATE OF FORMATION: 1975 CAPITAL: Maputo POPULATION: 22.9 million TOTAL AREA: 309,494 sq. miles
Portuguese*
(801,590 sq. km) DENSITY: 76 people per sq. mile
RELIGIONS: Traditional beliefs 56%, Christian 30%, Muslim 14% ETHNIC MIX: Makua Lomwe 47%, Tsonga 23%, Malawi 12%, Shona 11% other 7% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: New metical = 100 centavos
282
ASIA
Myanmar (Burma) Forming the eastern shores of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea in southeast Asia, Myanmar suffers from isolation, political repression, and ethnic conflict.
INDIA
Myitkyina
INSIGHT: Myanmar is one of the world’s biggest teak exporters, though reserves are diminishing rapidly
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Union of Myanmar DATE OF FORMATION: 1948 CAPITAL: Nay Pyi Taw POPULATION: 50 million TOTAL AREA: 261,969 sq. miles
(678,500 sq. km) DENSITY: 197 people per sq. mile
CHINA
g
Monywa Mandalay Pakokku Sagaing Shan Sittwe Taunggyi Plateau
on
200 miles
ek
0
200 km
I r ra w
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The military, in power since 1962, rules Myanmar with little regard to human rights. Opposition is not tolerated. The National League for Democracy won elections in 1990, but was kept from power. Its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is frequently detained. Minority groups maintain low-level guerrilla activity against the state.
0
a dd
y
CLIMATE Tropical. Hot summers, with high humidity, and warm winters.
THE ECONOMY Corrupt, mismanaged, subject to sanctions – but gas, teak, and gems are exported. Illicit opium production has fallen. Rice shortages in 2008 after Cyclone Nargis. Prices are high on the black market.
M
GEOGRAPHY The fertile Irrawaddy basin lies at the center. Mountains to the west, Shan plateau to the east. Tropical rainforest covers much of the land.
NAY PYI TAW Taungoo Thandwe Bay of Bengal
Pyay THAILAND Hinthada Bago Insein Thaton Pathein Mawlamyine Rangoon Mouths of the Kyaikkami Irrawaddy
Dawei 4000m/13124ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
LAOS
Andaman Sea
Myeik
Mergui Archipelago Isthmus of Kra
LANGUAGES: Burmese*, Shan, Karen, Rakhine, Chin, Yangbye, Kachin, Mon RELIGIONS: Buddhist 87%, Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, other 2%, Hindu 1% ETHNIC MIX: Burman 68%, other 13%, Shan 9%, Karen 6%, Rakhine 4% GOVERNMENT: Military-based regime CURRENCY: Kyat = 100 pyas
AFRICA
Namibia
283
Located in southwestern Africa, Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990, after 24 years of armed struggle. It regained the territory of Walvis Bay in 1994. GEOGRAPHY The Namib Desert stretches along the coastal strip. Inland, a ridge of mountains rises to 8000 ft (2500 m). The Kalahari Desert lies in the east.
THE ECONOMY Varied mineral resources, notably uranium and diamonds. Rich offshore fishing grounds. High unemployment. HIV/AIDS epidemic. One of Africa’s most skewed distributions of wealth.
CLIMATE Almost rainless. The coast is usually shrouded in thick fog, unless the hot, dry berg wind is blowing.
ANGOLA
Tsumeb
N
AT L AN T I C O C E AN
WINDHOEK Rehoboth BOTSWANA Kalahari Desert
Keetmanshoop
Lüderitz
e a n g e R iv
Or
(825,418 sq. km) DENSITY: 7 people per sq. mile
Swakopmund Walvis Bay
r t D e s e
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Namibia DATE OF FORMATION: 1990 CAPITAL: Windhoek POPULATION: 2.17 million TOTAL AREA: 318,694 sq. miles
i b
FACTFILE
Otjiwarongo
m
INSIGHT: The Namib is the Earth’s oldest, and one of its driest, deserts
Grootfontein
a
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The Ovambo, the main ethnic group, live mainly in the more populous north. Some 100,000 whites, many of German descent, are centered around Windhoek and still control the economy. The minority San and Khoi bushmen are among the oldest human communities in the world. The ban on homosexuality is contentious.
ZAMBIA Zambezi
Rundu
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
r
SOUTH AFRICA 0 0
200 km 200 miles
LANGUAGES: Ovambo, Kavango, English*, Bergdama, German, Afrikaans RELIGIONS: Christian 90%, traditional beliefs 10% ETHNIC MIX: Ovambo 50%, other 25%, Kavango 9%, Damara 8%, Herero 8% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Namibian dollar = 100 cents
284
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
Nauru Nauru lies in the Pacific, northeast of Australia. Phosphate deposits gave its inhabitants huge temporary wealth, but economic mismanagement has left them facing ruin.
GEOGRAPHY A single low-lying coral atoll, with a fertile coastal belt. Coral cliffs encircle an elevated interior plateau. CLIMATE Equatorial, moderated by sea breezes. Occasional long droughts. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Native Nauruans are of mixed Micronesian and Polynesian origin. Most live in simple, traditional houses and spend their money on luxury cars and consumer goods. Welfare and education are free. A diet of imported processed foods has caused widespread obesity and diabetes. Mining was left to imported laborers, mainly from Kiribati, who lived in enclaves of male-only barracks and had few rights. Many young Nauruans leave to seek a better life in Australia or New Zealand.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Nauru DATE OF FORMATION: 1968 CAPITAL: None POPULATION: 9800 TOTAL AREA: 8.1 sq. miles
(21 sq. km) DENSITY: 1210 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Phosphate revenues all but dried up. Sale of fishing rights sole resource. State trust fund invested badly overseas. Offshore banking facilities closed after international pressure. INSIGHT: Phosphate mining has left 80% of the island uninhabitable P A C I F I C O C E A N
Nauru General Hospital Phosphate Company Hospital Phosphate Company Works Post Office
Buada Lagoon Nauru Civic Centre
Nauru Secondary School
0 0
1 km 1 mile
Phosphate Company Site Office
Broadcasting Anibare Transmitter Bay
Meneng Hotel Air Terminal
Police Station
State House
200m/656ft Sea Level Phosphate mines
LANGUAGES: Nauruan*, Kiribati, Chinese, Tuvaluan, English RELIGIONS: Nauruan Congregational Church 60%, Catholic 35%, other 5% ETHNIC MIX: Nauruan 62%, other Pacific islanders 27%, Asian 8%, European 3% GOVERNMENT: Nonparty system CURRENCY: Australian dollar = 100 cents
ASIA
285
Nepal Nepal, lying between India and China on the southern shoulder of the Himalayas, is one of the world’s poorest countries. Its agricultural economy is heavily dependent on the monsoon. GEOGRAPHY Mainly mountainous. The area includes some of the highest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest. Flat, fertile river plains form the south.
THE ECONOMY Agriculture employs 70% of people. Crops include rice and wheat. Tourism and investment affected by instability and Maoist insurgency. Reliant on aid. Hydropower potential.
CLIMATE Warm monsoon season from July to October. The rest of the year is dry, sunny, and mild. Winter temperatures in the Himalayas average 14°F (–10°C). PEOPLE & SOCIETY Tensions are few between the diverse ethnic groups. Buddhist women, including Sherpas, face fewer social restrictions than Hindus. Trafficking of women and child labor are problems. Human rights violations rose during the 1999–2006 Maoist insurgency. The peace deal led to the abolition of the monarchy and Maoist victory in elections, but fractious coalitions mean instability continues.
INSIGHT: Southern Nepal was the birthplace of Buddha (Prince Siddhartha Gautama) in 563 BCE
H
Dadeldhurá
i Jumlá
Salyán
m
a
C HI N A
l a Mt. Everest y a 29,035ft (8850m) (Sagarmatha) s Pokhará KATHMANDU Bhaktapur Baglung
Lalitpur
I N D I A
Ilám
Janakpur
Birátnagar 4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
0
100 km
0
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Nepali*, Maithili,
OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Democratic
Bhojpuri
Republic of Nepal
RELIGIONS: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other (incl. Christian) 2% ETHNIC MIX: Other 57%, Chhetri 16%, Hill Brahman 13%, Tharu 7%, Magar 7% GOVERNMENT: Transitional regime CURRENCY: Nepalese rupee = 100 paisa
DATE OF FORMATION: 1769 CAPITAL: Kathmandu POPULATION: 29.3 million TOTAL AREA: 54,363 sq. miles (140,800 sq. km) DENSITY: 555 people per sq. mile
100 miles
286
EUROPE
Netherlands Astride the delta of five major rivers in northwest Europe, the Netherlands built its historic wealth on maritime trade. Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port.
GEOGRAPHY Mainly flat, with 27% of the land below sea level and protected by dunes, dikes, and canals. There are a few low hills in the south and east.
THE ECONOMY Major trading hub. High-profile multinationals. Diverse industrial base: chemicals, machinery, electronics, and metals. Costly social welfare system.
CLIMATE Mild, rainy winters and cool summers. Gales from the North Sea are common in fall and winter.
INSIGHT: In 2002, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia
DATE OF FORMATION: 1648 CAPITAL: Amsterdam and The Hague POPULATION: 16.6 million TOTAL AREA: 16,033 sq. miles
(41,526 sq. km)
d a W
ad
W
er
e
Netherlands
Leeuwarden
m
OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of the
N o r t h S e a
sel
FACTFILE
n n d e e i l a e n ee z n Groningen de
Ij s
AMSTERDAM
Haarlem
Enschede Apeldoorn Utrecht Arnhem der R ij n Rotterdam Nijmegen
’S-GRAVENHAGE Leiden (THE HAGUE)
Delft
Ne
s Ma a
GERMANY s
Tilburg
Eindhoven
aa
Breda
M
PEOPLE & SOCIETY The Dutch have a long history of welcoming immigrants from former colonies and refugees seeking asylum. However, lack of integration is now raising fears about the failing asylum system, immigrant crime, and militant Islam. Population is mostly urban and the density is high. The state does not try to impose a particular morality on its citizens. Laws concerning sexuality, narcotics-taking, and euthanasia are among the world’s most liberal.
d
Sea Level Below Sea Level
BELGIUM
0 0
40 km
Maastricht
40 miles
DENSITY: 1267 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Dutch*, Frisian RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 36%, other 34%,
Protestant 27%, Muslim 3% ETHNIC MIX: Dutch 82%, other 12%,
Surinamese, Turkish, and Moroccan 6% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
287
New Zealand Lying in the South Pacific, 990 miles (1600 km) southeast of Australia, New Zealand comprises North and South Islands, separated by the Cook Strait, and many smaller islands. GEOGRAPHY North Island, noted for hot springs and geysers, has the bulk of the population. South Island is mostly mountainous, with eastern lowlands. CLIMATE Generally temperate and damp. The far north is almost subtropical, whereas southern winters are cold. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Maoris were the first settlers, 1200 years ago. Today’s majority European population is descended mainly from British migrants who settled after 1840. Maoris’ living and education standards are generally lower than average. The government is continuing to negotiate the settlement of Maori land claims.
THE ECONOMY Tourism is the biggest foreignexchange earner. Modern agricultural sector; world’s top exporter of dairy products. Hi-tech manufacturing. Open economy. Strong trade links. 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
North Island Auckland Tauranga
Hamilton
Rotorua New Plymouth
Blenheim
Greymouth South Island
Queenstown
So
h ut
Hastings
Palmerston North
Tasman Sea
er
n
A
lp
WELLINGTON Cook Strait
s
Christchurch
Timaru Dunedin
P A C I F I C O C E A N
Invercargill
INSIGHT: New Zealand women were the first to get the vote (1893)
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: New Zealand DATE OF FORMATION: 1947 CAPITAL: Wellington POPULATION: 4.27 million TOTAL AREA: 103,737 sq. miles
(268,680 sq. km) DENSITY: 41 people per sq. mile
Stewart Island
0
200 km
0
200 miles
LANGUAGES: English*, Maori* RELIGIONS: Anglican 24%, other 22%,
Presbyterian 18%, nonreligious 16%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5% ETHNIC MIX: European 75%, Maori 15%, other 7%, Samoan 3% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: New Zealand dollar = 100 cents
288
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Nicaragua Nicaragua lies at the heart of Central America. The Sandinista revolution of 1978 led to 11 years of civil war between the left-wing Sandinistas and the right-wing US-backed Contras. THE ECONOMY Textiles, coffee, meat, tobacco are main exports: affected by world price fluctuations. Remittances from abroad. Substantial debt relief has cut debt to 60% of GDP. Corruption.
CLIMATE Tropical. The lowlands are hot all year round. The mountains are cooler. Prone to occasional hurricanes.
INSIGHT: Lake Nicaragua is the only freshwater lake in the world to contain marine animals
Co co
HONDURAS
t
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Most of the population is mixed race, and there is a large white elite. The Caribbean regions are home to communities of Miskito Amerindians and blacks, who gained autonomy in 1987. The revolution improved the status of women, but these gains have been undone by rampant poverty.
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Ocotal Estelí
Matagalpa
Chinandega León
Matiguas
MANAGUA Juigalpa Granada
San Rafael del Sur
Mosquit o Co as
GEOGRAPHY Extensive forested plains in the east. Central mountain region with many active volcanoes. The Pacific coastlands are dominated by lakes.
Bluefields
Lago de Nicaragua (Lake Nicaragua) Sa COSTA RICA n J u a n
Rivas
0
100 km
0
100 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Spanish*, English Creole,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Nicaragua DATE OF FORMATION: 1838 CAPITAL: Managua POPULATION: 5.74 million TOTAL AREA: 49,998 sq. miles
Miskito
(129,494 sq. km) DENSITY: 125 people per sq. mile)
Caribbean Sea
RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant
Evangelical 17%, other 3% ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 69%, White 14%,
Black 8%, Amerindian 5%, Zambo 4% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Córdoba oro = 100 centavos
AFRICA
289
Niger Niger lies in west Africa, upstream from Nigeria on the Niger River. One of the world’s poorest states, it was ruled by oneparty or military regimes until multipartyism was allowed in 1992.
CLIMATE High temperatures persist for most of the year at around 95°F (35°C). The north is virtually rainless.
S
a
Massif de l'Aïr
h én
a
r
a
é ér
Agadez
MALI Tahoua
A
(1,267,000 sq. km) DENSITY: 31 people per sq. mile
LIBYA
ALGERIA
KI N
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Niger DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Niamey POPULATION: 15.3 million TOTAL AREA: 489,188 sq. miles
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
B UR
FACTFILE
INSIGHT: The name Niger comes from the Tuareg word n’eghirren, which means “flowing water”
r ge Ni
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Tuareg nomads in the north feel excluded from politics and the benefits of development of their area’s uranium resources. An early 1990s rebellion was reignited in 2007. In the south, egalitarianism and a sense of community help to combat economic difficulties. Almost the entire urban population lives in slum conditions. Two-thirds of the population is under 25. Women have limited rights and restricted access to education.
THE ECONOMY Vast uranium deposits. Frequent droughts and food shortages. Banditry. Expansion of Sahara. Oil potential.
T
GEOGRAPHY The north and northeast regions are part of the Sahara. The Aïr Mountains in the center rise high above the desert. Savanna lies to the south.
NIAMEY Dosso
S a h e l Birnin Konni Zinder Diffa Maradi Dogondoutchi
CHAD Lake Chad
BENIN NIGERIA 0
200 km
0
LANGUAGES: Hausa, French*, other RELIGIONS: Muslim 85%, traditional
beliefs 14%, other (incl. Christian) 1% ETHNIC MIX: Hausa 55%, Djerma and Songhai 21%, Peul 9%, Tuareg 9%, other 6% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
200 miles
290
AFRICA
Nigeria West Africa’s biggest nation, Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and the capital, Abuja. Dominated by military governments since 1966, democracy returned in 1999.
CLIMATE The south is hot, rainy and humid for most of the year. The arid north has one very humid wet season. The Jos Plateau and highlands are cooler.
INSIGHT: Nigeria is Africa’s most populous state – one in every seven Africans is Nigerian CHAD N I G E R Sokoto Ni
Maiduguri Kaduna
r
BENIN
ABUJA
Jos Plateau
Ilorin
en
ue
Niger
Ogbomosho Makurdi Ibadan Enugu Lagos Benin Bight of Benin CAMEROON City Uyo ATLANTIC Port Harcourt OCEAN 0 0
200 km 200 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Hausa, English*,
OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Republic of Nigeria DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 CAPITAL: Abuja POPULATION: 155 million TOTAL AREA: 356,667 sq. miles
Yoruba, Ibo
(923,768 sq. km) DENSITY: 440 people per sq. mile
Lake Chad
Katsina Kano
ge
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Some 250 ethnic groups: tensions threaten national unity, with sporadic intercommunal violence. The northern states have introduced sharia (Islamic law) for their majority Muslim populations. Women have more economic independence in the south. In the Niger Delta, where 70% of people live on less than a dollar a day, militants are fighting for a share of the benefits of the region’s oil wealth.
THE ECONOMY Overdependent on oil, principal export since 1970s. Mismanagement and corruption. Foreign debt reduced.
B
GEOGRAPHY Coastal area of beaches, swamps, and lagoons gives way to rainforest, and then to savanna on the high plateaus. Semidesert to the north.
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
RELIGIONS: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%,
traditional beliefs 10% ETHNIC MIX: Hausa 21%, Yoruba 21%,
Ibo 18%, Fulani 11%, other 29% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Naira = 100 kobo
EUROPE
291
Norway The Kingdom of Norway traces the rugged western coast of Scandinavia. Settlements are largely restricted to southern and coastal areas. Vast oil and natural gas revenues bring prosperity. GEOGRAPHY The western coast is indented with numerous fjords and features tens of thousands of islands. Mountains and plateaus cover most of the country. CLIMATE Mild coastal climate. Inland, the weather is more extreme, with warmer summers and cold, snowy winters. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Fairly homogeneous; influx of refugees from 1990s Bosnian conflict. Strong family tradition despite high divorce rate. Fair-minded consensus promotes female equality, boosted by the generous childcare provision. Wealth is more evenly distributed than in most developed countries. Voted not to join EU in 1994.
THE ECONOMY Western Europe’s top oil and natural gas producer: trust fund saves for post-oil future. Metal, chemical, and engineering industries. Generous aid donor. Hammerfest High cost of living. RUSS. Tromsø 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Narvik Bodø Arctic Circle
Norwegian Sea
SWEDEN
Trondheim Ålesund Lillehammer Bergen Hønefoss No r th Se a
OSLO Moss
Stavanger
INSIGHT: Near Narvik, mainland Norway is only 4 miles (7 km) wide
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Norway DATE OF FORMATION: 1905 CAPITAL: Oslo POPULATION: 4.81 million TOTAL AREA: 125,181 sq. miles
(324,220 sq. km) DENSITY: 41 people per sq. mile
FED. FINLAND
Kristiansand
S k ager
rak
0
200 km
0
LANGUAGES: Norwegian* (Bokmål and Nynorsk), Sámi RELIGIONS: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, other 10%, Roman Catholic 1% ETHNIC MIX: Norwegian 93%, other 6%, Sámi 1% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Norwegian krone = 100 øre
200 miles
292
ASIA
Oman Oman occupies a strategic position on the Arabian Peninsula, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. It is the least developed Gulf state, despite modest oil exports.
GEOGRAPHY Mostly gravelly desert, with mountains in the north and south. Some narrow fertile coastal strips. CLIMATE Blistering heat in the west. Summer temperatures often climb above 113°F (45°C). Southern uplands receive rains June–September. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Urban drift has seen most Omanis move to northern towns. The majority are Ibadi Muslims who follow an appointed leader, the imam. Ibadism is not opposed to freedom for women, and a few women hold positions of authority. Baluchi from Pakistan are the largest group of foreign workers. INSIGHT: Until the late 1980s, Oman was closed to all but business or official visitors
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Sultanate of Oman DATE OF FORMATION: 1951 CAPITAL: Muscat POPULATION: 2.85 million TOTAL AREA: 82,031 sq. miles
(212,460 sq. km) DENSITY: 35 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Oil and natural gas account for almost all export revenue. Commercially extractable reserves are limited. Other exports include fish, animals, and dates. Foreigners work in all sectors. 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Strait of Hormuz
Al Kha§ab Musandam Peninsula
UAE fluíár
Gulf of Oman
MUSCAT
Ar Rustáq
Al Qábil Bahlah
flamad flúr
SAUDI ARABIA
Arabian Sea
Duqm A r
R u b '
a l
K h á l í
INDIAN OCEAN
flawqirah YEMEN flalálah
0 0
100 km 100 miles
LANGUAGES: Arabic*, Baluchi, other RELIGIONS: Ibadi Muslim 75%, other Muslim
and Hindu 25% ETHNIC MIX: Arab 88%, Baluchi 4%,
Persian 3%, Indian and Pakistani 3%, African 2% GOVERNMENT: Monarchy CURRENCY: Omani rial = 1000 baisa
ASIA
Pakistan
293
Once a part of British India, Pakistan was created in 1947 in response to demands for an independent Muslim state. In 1971, Bangladesh (former East Pakistan) became a separate state.
CLIMATE Temperatures can soar to 122°F (50°C) in south and west, and fall to –4°F (–20°C) in the Hindu Kush. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Punjabis dominate government and the army. Tensions with minority groups, exacerbated by the vast gap between rich and poor. Strong family ties permeate politics and business. Relations with India are tense over Kashmir. Islamist taliban insurgency in tribal areas on Afghan border: in 2009, fighting displaced two million.
THE ECONOMY Major cotton and rice producer, but unpredictable weather conditions often affect crop. Textiles. Instability. Corruption. Aid to fight terrorism and for earthquake reconstruction. 5000m/16405ft 4000m/13124ft 3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
CHINA
Hi
Kus
h
Indu s
Karakoram Range
Khyber Pass
Pesháwar Ráwalpindi Sargodha
AFGHANISTAN
Siálkot
Faisalábád Punjab Multán
Quetta
IRAN
u nd
ISLÁMÁBÁD
Indu s
GEOGRAPHY Indus floodplain across east and south. Hindu Kush mountains in north. Semidesert plateau, mountains in west.
Baháwalpur
Sukkur
Baluchistán
Gujránwála Lahore
INDIA
Thar Desert
Sindh
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Islamic Rep. of Pakistan DATE OF FORMATION: 1947 CAPITAL: Islamabad POPULATION: 181 million TOTAL AREA: 310,401 sq. miles
(803,940 sq. km) DENSITY: 607 people per sq. mile
I nd
Karáchi Arabian Sea
us
Hyderábád
INSIGHT: In 1988, Pakistan elected Benazir Bhutto as the first female prime minister in the Muslim world
0 0
200 km 200 miles
LANGUAGES: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Urdu*, Baluchi, Brahui RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 77%, Shi’a Muslim 20%, Hindu 2%, Christian 1% ETHNIC MIX: Punjabi 56%, Pathan 15%, Sindhi 14%, other 8%, Mohajir 7% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Pakistani rupee = 100 paisa
294
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
Palau The 300-island Palau archipelago (known locally as Belau) lies in the western Pacific Ocean. It achieved independence in 1994, and is gradually reducing its aid dependence.
GEOGRAPHY Terrain varies from thickly forested mountains to limestone and coral reefs. Babeldaob, the largest island, is volcanic, with many rivers and waterfalls. CLIMATE Hot and wet. Little variation in daily and seasonal temperatures. February– April is the dry season. PEOPLE & SOCIETY Native Palauans are a mix of the original Southeast Asian migrants and Pacific settlers. A modern influx from Asia has led to tension. 70% of the population lives on the island-city of Koror, prompting the construction of a new capital on Babeldaob. Native culture is preserved on outer islands despite strong influence from the US and Japan. Modekngei is a blend of Christianity and local beliefs.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Palau DATE OF FORMATION: 1994 CAPITAL: Melekeok POPULATION: 20,400 TOTAL AREA: 177 sq. miles
(458 sq. km) DENSITY: 104 people per sq. mile
THE ECONOMY Tourism and fishing licenses are main earners. Coconuts, taro, and bananas. 15-year US aid plan to 2009. INSIGHT: Palau’s reefs contain 1500 species of fish and 700 types of coral Ngaruangl Kayangel Islands
200m/656ft Sea Level
Ollei
P A C I F I C
Ngardmau
MELEKEOK
O C E A N Koror
Babeldaob Airai
Oreor Urukthapel Eil Malk Peleliu Angaur
0 0
30 km 30 miles
LANGUAGES: Palauan*, English*, Japanese, Angaur, Tobi, Sonsorolese RELIGIONS: Christian 66%, Modekngei 34% ETHNIC MIX: Palauan 74%, Filipino 16%, other 6%, Chinese and other Asian 4% GOVERNMENT: Nonparty system CURRENCY: US dollar = 100 cents
NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Panama
295
Panama is the southernmost country in Central America. The colossal Panama Canal (which was under US control until 2000) links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. GEOGRAPHY Lowlands along both coasts, with savanna-covered plains and rolling hills. Mountainous interior. Swamps and rainforests in the east. CLIMATE Hot and humid, with heavy rainfall in the May–December wet season. Cooler at high altitudes.
THE ECONOMY Colón Free Trade Zone: world’s second-largest. Income from the canal (expansion project underway) and merchant ships sailing under flag of Panama. Banana and shrimp exports. INSIGHT: The Panama Canal shortens the sea route between the east coast of the US and Japan by 3000 miles (4800 km)
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Caribbean Sea Colón A multiethnic society, Cristóbal San Miguelito Panama Canal dominated by people of PANAMA CITY COSTA Balboa Spanish origin. Amerindians RICA La Concepción C o r d i l l e r a l a r t Cen live in remote areas. The Panama David Santiago Archipielago La Palma Canal and former US military Golfo de de las Perlas Chitré Chiriquí Golfo de bases (the last of which closed Las Tablas Isla de Panamá COLOMBIA Coiba in 1999) have given society a PACIFIC cosmopolitan outlook, but Catholicism OCEAN and the extended family remain 2000m/6562ft strong. Crime is high; money-laundering, 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 0 100 km narcotics trafficking, and 200m/656ft Sea Level 0 100 miles corruption are rife.
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Panama DATE OF FORMATION: 1903 CAPITAL: Panama City POPULATION: 3.45 million TOTAL AREA: 30,193 sq. miles
(78,200 sq. km) DENSITY: 118 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: English Creole, Spanish*, Amerindian and Chibchan languages RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 86%, other 8%, Protestant 6% ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 60%, White 14%, Black 12%, Amerindian 8%, other 6% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Balboa = 100 centésimos
296
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
Papua New Guinea A former Australian colony, Papua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern section of the island of New Guinea and several other island groups. Much of the country is isolated.
GEOGRAPHY Mountainous and forested mainland, with broad, swampy river valleys. 40 active volcanoes in the north. Around 600 outer islands.
THE ECONOMY Minerals: significant quantities of gold, copper, oil, and natural gas. High government spending almost led to national bankruptcy in 2002.
CLIMATE Hot and humid in lowlands, cooling toward highlands, where snow can fall on highest peaks.
INSIGHT: PNG is home to the only known poisonous birds; contact with the feathers of some species of pitohui produces skin blisters
3000m/9843ft 2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Solomon
a St
(462,840 sq. km)
PORT MORESBY
en w
DATE OF FORMATION: 1975 CAPITAL: Port Moresby POPULATION: 6.73 million TOTAL AREA: 178,703 sq. miles
O
Papua New Guinea
y
OFFICIAL NAME: Independent State of
Fl
FACTFILE
Bi sm ar c k P A C I F I C O C E A N Lorengau New Guinea Arc h i p el Admiralty Is. Aitape ago New Ireland Wewak Bismarck Rabaul Sea Madang New Britain Mount Kandrian Hagen Bougainville I. Kieta Lae INDONESIA
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Around 800 language groups and even more tribes. The main social distinction is between lowlanders, who have frequent contact with the outside world, and the very isolated, but increasingly threatened, highlanders. Great tensions exist between highland tribes, and vendettas can often last several generations. The island of Bougainville has been granted autonomy and promised an eventual referendum on independence.
Popondetta S e a Kiriwina Is.
nl ey
Ra
ng
e
Louisiade Archipelago Coral Sea
0 0
200 km 200 miles
DENSITY: 39 people per sq. mile LANGUAGES: Pidgin English, Papuan, English*,
Motu, c.800 native languages RELIGIONS: Protestant 60%, Roman Catholic 37%, other 3% ETHNIC MIX: Melanesian and mixed 100% GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system CURRENCY: Kina = 100 toea
SOUTH AMERICA
Paraguay
297
Landlocked in central South America, and once a Spanish colony, Paraguay’s postindependence history has included periods of military rule. Free elections were held in 1993. GEOGRAPHY The Paraguay River divides the hilly and forested east from a flat alluvial plain, with marsh and semidesert scrub land in the west.
n C
h
a
o
r
BRAZIL
a
Pedro Juan Caballero Concepción ARGENTINA
Represa de Itaipú
Coronel Oviedo Lambaré Villarrica Ciudad del Este Pilar
ASUNCIÓN
1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Par a n
á
Encarnación
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Guaraní*, Spanish*,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Paraguay DATE OF FORMATION: 1811 CAPITAL: Asunción POPULATION: 6.35 million TOTAL AREA: 157,046 sq. miles
German
(406,750 sq. km) DENSITY: 41 people per sq. mile
100 miles
c
G
ay
INSIGHT: The War of the Triple Alliance (1864–1870) killed almost 90% of Paraguay’s male population
100 km
0 r agu
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Population mainly of mixed Spanish and native Guaraní origin. Most people are bilingual, though in rural areas Guaraní is more widely used. Cattle ranchers populate the Chaco, along with communities of the German-origin Mennonite Church. The army is politically active.
0
BOLIVIA Pa
CLIMATE Subtropical. The Gran Chaco is generally hotter and drier. All areas experience floods and droughts.
THE ECONOMY Agriculture: soybeans are the main export. Electricity exported from massive hydroelectric dams, including Itaipú (world’s second-largest, jointly run with Brazil). Large informal economy. Corruption and smuggling.
RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant (including Mennonite) 4% ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 91%, other 7%, Amerindian 2% GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: Guaraní = 100 céntimos
298
SOUTH AMERICA
Peru Once the heart of the Inca Empire, before the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, Peru lies on the Pacific coast of South America, just south of the equator.
GEOGRAPHY Coastal plain rises to Andes Mountains. Uplands, dissected by fertile valleys, lie east of the Andes. Tropical forest in extreme east.
INSIGHT: Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake Equator
COLOMBIA
Pu
tu
CLIMATE Coast is mainly arid. Middle slopes of the Andes are temperate; higher peaks are snow-covered. East is hot, humid, and very wet.
THE ECONOMY Abundant mineral resources: notably copper and gold. Rich Pacific fish stocks. Illegal cocaine producer.
m
ECUADOR
ay
o
Iquitos
Amazo n
M ar a ñ ó n Uca y a
Piura Chiclayo
BRAZIL
Pucallpa
n
Trujillo Chimbote
li
A
Huánuco
LIMA
Huancayo e Callao Cusco Ayacuchos PACIFIC OCEAN Ica Juliaca
d
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Though most people are Amerindians or mixed-race mestizos, society is dominated by a small group of Spanish descendants. Amerindians, and the small black community, suffer discrimination in towns, but access to information and political power are growing; the first Amerindian president was elected in 2001–2006. Clashes with left-wing militants killed almost 70,000 people between 1980 and 2000.
Lake Titicaca
Arequipa 4000m/13124ft 2000m/6562ft 500m/1640ft Sea Level
BOLIVIA
Tacna 0
200 km
0
CHILE
200 miles
FACTFILE
LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Quechua*,
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Peru DATE OF FORMATION: 1824 CAPITAL: Lima POPULATION: 29.2 million TOTAL AREA: 496,223 sq. miles
Aymara
(1,285,200 sq. km) DENSITY: 59 people per sq. mile
GOVERNMENT: Presidential system CURRENCY: New sol = 100 céntimos
RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 95%,
other 5% ETHNIC MIX: Amerindian 50%, Mestizo 40%,
White 7%, other 3%
ASIA
299
Philippines Lying in the western Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is the world’s second-largest archipelago, with 7107 islands, of which 4600 are named but only around 1000 inhabited. GEOGRAPHY Larger islands are forested and mountainous. Over 20 active volcanoes. Frequent earthquakes.
THE ECONOMY Coconuts, bananas, pineapples exported. Growing outsourcing center. Remittances from abroad. Corruption and poor infrastructure limit growth.
CLIMATE Tropical. Warm and humid all year round. Typhoons occur in the rainy season: June–October.
2000m/6562ft 1000m/3281ft 500m/1640ft 200m/656ft Sea Level
Babuyan Is.
P A C I F I C O C E A N Luzon
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Over 100 ethnic groups, most of which are of Malay origin. The Catholic Church is a dominant cultural force; it opposes family-planning, despite high population growth. The Chinese minority has been established for 400 years. Women play a prominent part in society. High literacy levels. Islamist separatists and communist insurgents undermine stability.
MANILA Batangas South China Sea
FACTFILE OFFICIAL NAME: Rep. of the Philippines DATE OF FORMATION: 1946 CAPITAL: Manila POPULATION: 92 million TOTAL AREA: 115,830 sq. miles
(300,000 sq. km) DENSITY: 799 people per sq. mile
0 0
200 km
Calbayog Samar
Panay
Iloilo
Palawan
B a la
Legazpi City
Mindoro
bac
Puerto Princesa Negros it
ra St
