EAST ASIA UNITED STATES AND CANADA LATIN AMERICA EUROPE RUSSIA AND CENTRAL ASIA AUSTRALIA AND ANTARCTICA Regional Quick Views.

EAST ASIAUNITED STATES AND CANADA

LATIN AMERICAEUROPE

RUSSIA AND CENTRAL ASIAAUSTRALIA AND ANTARCTICA

Regional Quick Views

East Asia

China

Mongolia

North Korea

South KoreaJapan

TaiwanHong Kong

Physical Features

Himalaya Mtns

Plateau of Tibet

Taklamakan Desert

Gobi Desert

Yellow RiverYangtze River

Three Gorges Dam

Xi Jiang

Economic Characteristics

China is transitioning from command (communist) to market economy

North Korea still communist economy – people are the poorest in the world

Varied economies in the region ranging from subsistence/commercial agriculture to high-tech industrial manufacturing

Participation in global marketsNewly industrialized countries—South Korea, Taiwan,

SingaporeJapan—economic leader Agricultural advancements and technology, enabling

greater food production—Green Revolution

Cultural Characteristics

Areas of extremely dense and sparse population

China – most populated country in the worldContrast between rural and urban areasReligious diversity—Hinduism, Islam,

Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Shinto, Confucianism

Respect for ancestorsSilk, ideograms (calligraphy)

Famous Landmarks

Great Wall of China – built 2000 years ago to keep out northern invaders

Terra Cotta WarriorsBuddhist pagodas

Famous Landmarks

The world's largest religious building. Built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. First a Hindu temple, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist temple.

Angkor Wat Cambodia, Southeast Asia

United States and Canada

Hudson Bay

St. Lawrence River

Mississippi River

Rocky Mtns

Rio Grande River

Physical Features

Abundant natural resourcesWide variety of climates – From tundra in

Alaska to tropical wet in Hawaii

Economic Characteristics

Highly developed infrastructureHighly diversified economyCenter of world financial markets – New York

Stock ExchangeU.S. culture exported via global marketplace

– McDonalds, Coca-Cola and blue jeansHigh literacy rate, GDP, life expectancyNAFTA – North American Free Trade

Agreement

Cultural Characteristics

Multicultural societies – U.S./melting pot; Canada/quilt

Bilingual nations – US has English and Spanish; Canada has English and French

Highly urbanized and mobileFrench separatists movement in Canada -

struggling to maintain national identityDemocratic governments NATO – North Atlantic Treaty

Organization/European roots

Famous Landmarks

U.S. Capitol BuildingGolden Gate BridgeSt. Louis Gateway Arch

Latin America

Amazon Rain Forest

Sierra Madre Mtns.

Andes Mtns.

Llanos

PatagoniaAtacama Desert

Caribbean Sea

Physical Features

Wide variety of landforms

Mostly tropical climates

Seasons reverse south of the border

Vertical Zonation

Economic Characteristics

Developing economiesSubsistence farmingSlash and burn agricultureCash crops and food crops – coffee and bananasEnvironmental issues: air pollution in Mexico City

and destruction of rainforests (deforestation)Oil resources in Ecuador, Venezuela and MexicoWidening gap between rich and poorMembers of NAFTA and OAS (Organ. of Am

States)Diverse mineral resources – primary business

(extraction)

Cultural Characteristics

Indian roots – Mayan, Aztec and IncaEuropean colonialism – Influence of the

Spanish and Portuguese (Brazil)Indian + European = MestizoRoman Catholic Religion/Spanish LanguageAfrican Influence – African slave tradeLarge out-migration – people leaving home

country for work

Famous Landmarks

Hacienda – communal landsMachu Picchu – Andes Mtns./IncaTikal – Guatemala/Mayan pyramid

Europe

British Isles

Scandinavian

Jutland

IberianItalian

Balkan

North European

Plain

Ural Mtns.

Chunnel

North Sea

Physical Features

A peninsula of peninsulasUral Mountains divide Europe from AsiaAll places near the water – rivers and canals major

transportation linksGreat farming - Advanced farming techniques,

highcrop yields, fertile soils, black earth (chernozem)

Areas threatened by air and water pollution– Forests (Black Forest)– Cities (Venice)– Rivers (Rhine, Danube, Seine)

Economic Characteristics

Highly developed in the West – East lags behind because of communist ties

Oil reserves in the North SeaEuropean Union – economic alliance to

promote trade among European nations

Cultural Characteristics

Highly urbanized Densely populatedBirthplace of Industrial Revolution (London)Birthplace of Democracy (Athens/Greece)Ethnically diverseMany languagesSwitzerland – neutral/specialized products and

banking, multilingualRegional conflicts – Yugoslavia (ethnic divisions),

Northern Ireland (religious tension)NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organ.) for defense

Famous Landmarks

Paris, France:Notre DameThe LouvreArc de TriompheEiffel TowerLondon, England:Big Ben

Famous Landmarks (con’t)

Rome, ItalyColiseumAthens, Greece: The Parthenon

Russia and Central Asia

Ur

al

Mt

ns

Siberia

The “Stans”

Physical Features

Vast land area—spans two continents, Europe and Asia (covers 11 time zones)

Vast areas of tundra, permafrost, taiga, and steppe

Varied climate regionsBlack earth belt (rich chernozem soil)Ural Mountains (divide Europe from Asia)Siberia (the sleeping land), located east of

the UralsMajor oil, natural gas, and mineral resources

– location is a problem

Economic Charateristics

Developing economiesPoor infrastructuresTransitioning from communist to free market

economyRussia is industrializedCentral Asia is very agriculturalAir and water pollution – Aral Sea/Chernobyl

Cultural Characteristics

Diverse ethnic groups, customs and traditions (many of Turkic, Slavic and Mongol heritage)

Dominant religion – Russian Orthodox

Fabergé eggs Matrioshka dollsSamovars

Famous Landmarks

Moscow:Red SquareThe KremlinSt. Basil’s

CathedralYurts – round

tents for nomads on

the steppes of Central Asia

Australia and Antarctica

Gre

at

Div

idin

g

Range

Great Barrier Reef

Physical Features

Wide range of vegetation, from tropical rain forests to desert scrub

Australia mostly desert – “Outback”Pacific islands—Volcanic, coral, or continentalAustralia’s isolation, resulting in unique

animal life

Antarctica, the world’s coldest,driest, windiest continent; icecap

Economic Characteristics

Air and water travel that bring goods and services to remote areas

Dry areas of Australia good for cattle and sheep ranching

Upset of environmental balance, caused by the introduction of nonnative plants and animals

Ranching, mining (primary activities)

Cultural Characteristics

Pacific islands are sparsely populated.

Australia colonized by GB as a penal colony

Lifestyles range from subsistence farming to modern city living.

• Traditional cultures:

Maori in New ZealandAborigines in Australia

Famous Landmarks

• Sydney Opera House• Cattle and sheep stations (Australia)

• Research stations Antarctica – Int’l Treaty• Thatched roof dwellings (Pacificislands)

Sub Sahara Africa

Sahara Desert

Sahel (Shore of the Desert)

GREAT

RIFT

VALLEy

Lake Victoria

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Victoria Falls

Madagascar

Physical Features

Continent is a huge plateauSmooth coastline with few natural harborsRiver transportation impeded by waterfalls

and rapidsMany landlocked countriesStorehouse of mineral wealthNature preserves and national parksEquator in middle of continent: climate

patterns are mirrored north and south of equator

Desertification

Economic Characteristics

Most of population engaged in agricultureSubsistence farmingNomadic herdingSlash-and-burn agriculturePoorly developed infrastructureMajor exporters of raw materialsDeveloping Demographics: low GDP, low life

expectancy, high pop. growth rate, high infant mortality, low literacy rate, pop. under age 15.

Cultural Characteristics

Many ethnic groups, languages and customsLarge numbers of refugees – Rwanda conflict

between Hutu and TutsiKnowledge of history through oral traditionFew cities with population over 1 millionColonial legacy – French, British, Belgians

Famous Landmarks

Colorful tribal dress identifies ancestral roots

Masks:represent spirits.