Australia, Pacific Islands, and Antarctica Australia New Zealand Papua New Guinea Hawaiian archipelago (U.S.) Australia, Pacific Islands, and Antarctica Wide range of vegetation, from tropical rain forests to desert scrub Australia, mostly desert The Dividing Range The Great Barrier Reef Australia’s isolation, resulting in unique animal life Antarctica, the coldest, driest, windiest continent; icecap Pacific Islands: Volcanic, coral, or continental Australia, Pacific Islands, and Antarctica Air and water travel that bring goods and services to remote areas Dry of Australia well suited to cattle and sheep ranching of environmental balance, caused by the introduction of non-native plants and animals Ranching, mining (primary activities) Communication and financial services (tertiary activities) Australia, Pacific Islands, and Antarctica Pacific Islands are sparsely populated. Most of Australia’s population lives near the coasts. Traditional culture continues to shape life in the Pacific Islands. Lifestyles range from subsistence farming to modern city living. Cultures reflect the mix of European and indigenous cultures (e.g., Maori and aborigines). Antarctica has no permanent residents. Cultural landscape Sydney Opera House Cattle and sheep stations (Australia) Research stations (Antarctica) Thatched-roof dwellings (Pacific Islands) Cities as centers of culture and trade Canberra, A.C.T. (Australian Capital Territory) Sydney Auckland Countries Physical Characteristics Economic Characteristics Cultural Characteristics
South, Southeast, and East Asia South Asia Afghanistan Pakistan Nepal Bhutan Bangladesh India Sri Lanka Southeast Asia Philippines Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Cambodia Burma (Myanmar) Laos Vietnam Singapore Brunei East Asia Mongolia China (People’s Republic of China) Taiwan (Republic of China) North Korea South Korea South, Southeast, and East Asia Influence of mountains on population, settlements, movement, climate Mountains Himalayas Western and Eastern Ghats Mount Fuji Varied climatic regions ranging from tropical wet to humid continental Natural hazards: Monsoons, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes Influence of water (rivers, seas, and ocean currents) on agriculture, trade, and transportation Bodies of water Arabian Sea Indian Ocean Bay of Bengal Ganges River Indus River Brahmaputra River Pacific Ocean Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) Mekong River Yellow River (Huang He) Abundant arable land Loess Plateau of Gobi Desert South, Southeast, and East Asia Varied economies in the region, ranging from subsistence/ commercial agriculture to high-tech industrial manufacturing Participation in global markets Newly industrialized countries: South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore Economic leader in transition from a centrally planned economy Agricultural advancements and technology, enabling greater food production: “Green Revolution” Environmental degradation Deforestation Fishing ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Rice, tropical crops South, Southeast, and East Asia Areas of extremely dense and of sparse population Contrast between rural and urban areas Religious diversity: Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Shinto, Confucianism Respect for ancestors Religious conflicts (Hindu vs. Muslim) Cultural heritage Silks Batik Wood and ivory carvings Ideograms, unique alphabets Jewels Cultural landscape Taj Mahal Angkor Wat Great Wall of China Floating markets Mosques, minarets Pagodas Temples and shrines Terraced rice fields Cities as centers of culture and trade Tokyo Beijing New Delhi Countries Physical Characteristics Economic Characteristics Cultural Characteristics
Russia and Central Asia Location of countries, with particular emphasis on the countries listed below (selected on the basis of their per capita GDP, land size, and population) GDP Kazakhstan Russia Turkmenistan Land size Russia Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Population Russia Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Russia and Central Asia Vast land area: Spans two continents, Europe and Asia (covers 11 time zones) Vast areas of tundra, permafrost, taiga, and steppe Varied climatic regions earth belt (rich chernozem soil) Mountains (e.g., Ural Mountains, which divide Europe from Asia) Caucasus Siberia (the sleeping land), located east of the Urals Major oil, natural gas, and mineral resources Water features Volga River Ob River Amur Lake Baikal Caspian Sea Aral Sea Bering Strait Pacific Ocean Arctic Ocean Some rivers flow northward to the Arctic Ocean Russia and Central Asia Transition from communist to free market economy Farming and industry concentrated in the Fertile Triangle region, rich chernozem soils (wheat farming) Infrastructure: Railroad, systems of rivers, canals, and railroads Energy resources: Hydroelectric power, oil, natural gas Russian natural resources not fully developed due to climate, limited transportation links, and vastness of the country Foreign competition for investment in the region (oil pipelines) Widespread pollution Shrinking of the Aral Sea Political and economic difficulties after the breakup of the Soviet Union Cotton production in Central Asia Russia and Central Asia Diverse ethnic groups, customs, and traditions (many people of Turkic and Mongol heritage) Cultural heritage Ballet Fabergé eggs Music Icons Matryoshka dolls Oriental carpets Samovars Cultural landscape Russian Orthodox churches (e.g., St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow) Red Square Kremlin Mosques, minarets Siberian villages Soviet-style apartment blocks Cities as centers of culture and trade Moscow St. Petersburg Novosibirsk Countries Physical Characteristics Economic Characteristics Cultural Characteristics
North Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East) Location of countries, with particular emphasis on the countries listed below (selected on the basis of their per capita GDP, land size, and population) GDP Kuwait United Arab Emirates Qatar Israel Land size Algeria Saudi Arabia Libya Population Iran Turkey Egypt Cities as centers of culture and trade Baghdad Cairo Istanbul Jerusalem Mecca Tehran Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East) Crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia Desert and semiarid climates: Sahara, steppes Mountains Taurus Zagros Water features Mediterranean Sea Red Sea Black Sea Arabian Sea Persian/Arabian Gulf Strait of Hormuz Bosporus Strait Dardanelles Strait Nile River Tigris River Euphrates River Jordan River Seasonal flooding, alluvial soils, delta regions, oases, wadis North Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East) Heavy reliance on primary economic activity (oil drilling, agriculture, pastoralism) Major producer of world’s oil Oil revenues: Positive and negative effects Water: The region’s most precious resource Great variation in standards of living, ranging from very high to poverty-stricken Regional conflicts, political unrest that affects tourism Aswan High Dam: Positive and negative effects Suez Canal: Enhanced shipping routes in the region Guest workers Trade important to region from earliest time Wide range of per capita incomes and levels of development Contemporary trade routes (sea lanes) Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) North Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East) Rapid urbanization Modernization centered in urban areas while traditional life continues in rural areas percentage of population under age 15 Population unevenly distributed Arab countries and Arabic language Non-Arab countries: Turkey, Iran, Israel Birthplace of major monotheistic Christianity, and Islam Conflict over Palestine Nomadic lifestyles Art that reflects the diversity of religions (stained glass, geometric tiles, calligraphy, mosaics, prayer rugs) Cultural landscape Mosques, minarets Church of the Holy Sepulcher Hagia Sophia Bazaars, suqs Western Wall Dome of the Rock Kaaba Pyramids Oil rigs Walled cities Countries Physical Characteristics Economic Characteristics Cultural Characteristics
United States and Canada United States Canada Cities as centers of culture and trade Toronto Montreal Ottawa Québec Vancouver, British Columbia Washington, D.C. Chicago New York City Los Angeles Houston United States and Canada Abundant natural resources Continental Divide Rivers Mississippi St. Lawrence Colorado Columbia Rio Grande Other water features Gulf of Mexico Great Lakes Arctic Ocean Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Hudson Bay Land forms Appalachian Mountains Pacific Coastal Ranges and Range Rocky Mountains Great Plains Interior lowlands Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Canadian Shield Canyon Columbia Plateau Colorado Plateau Varied climatic regions: Ranging from tundra in Alaska to tropical wet in Hawaii United States and Canada Major exporters of technology, information systems, and foodstuff Highly developed infrastructures Highly diversified economies Rich supply of mineral, energy, and forest resources American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Multinational corporations Center of financial markets (New York Stock Exchange) Sustained economic growth Widening gap between rich and poor Export of U.S. culture via the global marketplace (e.g., McDonald’s, music, blue jeans) United States and Canada Colonized by the Europeans Multicultural societies Increasingly diverse populations High literacy rate High standards of living Highly urbanized Canada’s struggle to maintain a national identity Highly mobile populations World’s longest unfortified border between the United States and Canada Democratic forms of government Arts that reflect the cultural heritage of multicultural societies North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Cultural landscape U.S. Capitol Golden Gate Bridge Independence Hall St. Louis Gateway Arch Wheat fields Skyscrapers, shopping malls Bilingual signs Influence of the automobile (e.g., gas stations, motels, interstate highways, services) Countries Physical Characteristics Economic Characteristics Cultural Characteristics
Europe Location of countries, with particular emphasis on the countries listed below (selected on the basis of their per capita GDP, land size, and population) GDP Norway Switzerland Luxembourg Land size Ukraine France Spain Population Germany United Kingdom Italy France Europe Part of large landmass called Eurasia Peninsulas Iberian Italian Scandinavian Jutland Balkan Islands Britain Ireland Sicily Iceland Fjords Mountains Alps Pyrenees North European plain Rivers Danube Rhine Seine Volga Seas Adriatic Aegean Mediterranean Baltic North Oceans Atlantic Arctic Strait of Gibraltar Varied climate regions: Tundra to Mediterranean Effects of the North Atlantic Drift and Europe Mountain regions: Tourism, recreation, mineral resources Areas threatened by air and water pollution Forests (Black Forest) Cities (Venice) Rivers (Rhine, Danube, Seine) Development of industrial and transportation centers near mineral deposits (e.g., coal and iron ore) Ruhr valley Po valley Rivers and canals serving as major transportation links Oil reserves in the North Sea Well-educated work force: Industrial and technological societies, banking in Switzerland Advanced farming techniques, high crop yields, fertile soils, black earth (chernozem) Well-developed infrastructure The Chunnel Differences in Western and Eastern European industrial development due to differing economic systems in prior years European Union Trade important; interdependence Europe Birthplace of Industrial Revolution Many ethnic groups with different languages, religions, customs Sporadic conflict among groups (wars, revolutions) Birthplace of western culture: Greece and Rome Spread of European culture to many other parts of the world (exploration, colonization, imperialism) Highly urbanized One of the world’s most densely populated areas North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Cultural landscape Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Eiffel T. Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa, St. Peter’s Basilica Parthenon Westminster Abbey, Big Ben Windmills Castles Cities as centers of culture and trade Berlin London Paris Madrid Rome Athens Warsaw