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.