Countries Listed By Continent

AFRICA (54)

ASIA (44)

EUROPE (47)

Algeria

Afghanistan

Albania

Angola

Bahrain

Andorra

Benin

Bangladesh

Armenia

N. AMERICA (23)
Antigua and
Barbuda
Bahamas

OCEANIA (14)
Australia
Fiji
Kiribati

Barbados
Botswana

Bhutan

Austria

Burkina

Brunei

Azerbaijan

Belize

Marshall Islands
Micronesia

Canada
Burundi

Burma (Myanmar)

Belarus

Cameroon

Cambodia

Belgium

Costa Rica

Nauru
New Zealand

Cuba
Cape Verde
Central African
Republic
Chad

China

Bosnia and
Herzegovina

East Timor
Bulgaria
India

Dominican
Republic

Croatia

Palau
Papua New
Guinea
Samoa

El Salvador

Indonesia
Comoros

Dominica

Cyprus

Grenada

Solomon Islands

Congo
Congo, Democratic
Republic of

Iran

Czech Republic

Guatemala

Tonga

Iraq

Denmark

Haiti

Tuvalu

Israel

Estonia

Honduras

Vanuatu

Japan

Finland

Jamaica

Jordan

France

Mexico

Argentina

Kazakhstan

Georgia

Nicaragua

Bolivia

Korea, North

Germany

Panama

Brazil

Korea, South

Greece

Saint Kitts and

Chile

Djibouti
Egypt

S. AMERICA (12)

Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon

Nevis
Hungary

Kyrgyzstan

Iceland

Laos

Ireland

Lebanon

Italy

Malaysia

Latvia

Maldives

Liechtenstein

Mongolia

Lithuania

Uruguay

Nepal

Luxembourg

Venezuela

Gambia
Ghana

Saint Lucia

Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Ivory Coast
Kenya

Colombia

Kuwait

Ecuador
Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines
Trinidad and
Tobago
United States
ANTRACTICA

Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname

Lesotho
Liberia

Libya

Oman

Macedonia

Madagascar

Pakistan

Malta

Malawi

Philippines

Moldova

Mali

Qatar

Monaco

Mauritania

Russian Federation

Montenegro

Mauritius

Saudi Arabia

Netherlands

Morocco

Singapore

Norway

Mozambique

Sri Lanka

Poland

Namibia

Syria

Portugal

Niger

Tajikistan

Romania

Nigeria

Thailand

San Marino

Rwanda

Turkey

Serbia

Turkmenistan

Slovakia

Sao Tome and

Principe
Senegal

United Arab
Emirates

Slovenia
Spain

Seychelles

Uzbekistan

Sierra Leone

Vietnam

Sweden

Somalia

Yemen

Switzerland

South Africa

Ukraine

South Sudan

United Kingdom

Sudan

Vatican City

Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

AFRICA:

AFRICA MAP:

Africa, the planet's 2nd largest continent and the second most-populous continent (after Asia) includes (54) individual
countries, and Western Sahara, a member state of the African Union whose statehood is disputed by Morocco. Note that South
Sudan is the continent's newest country.
With a 2011 population of 1,032,532,974, it accounts for just over 14% of the world's human population. It also contains the Nile
River system, the world's longest, and the massive Sahara Desert, the worlds largest.
Africa is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, both the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to
the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the east and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

AFRICAN HISTORY:
As for Africa, scientists have formerly concluded that it is the birthplace of mankind, as large numbers of human-like fossils

(discovered no where else) were found on the continent, some dating back 3.5 million years.
About 1.75 million years ago, early man spread throughout parts of Africa. They became aggressive hunters, lived in caves and
used fire and their ability to create stone tools just to survive.
The Neanderthals arose some 200,000 years ago and inhabited regions in northern Africa and across parts of southern Europe.
There is also clear evidence that they had control of fire, lived in caves, as well as open-air structures of stone and vegetation.
One of the most important developments of primitive man was the creation of stone tools. By 5000 BC farming was somewhat

common in the northern areas of Africa, as people were growing crops and herding livestock. During that time the Sahara
Desert was a fertile area.
In 3200 BC the Egyptian culture emerged along the lower reaches of the Nile River; it was among the earliest civilizations and their
tools and weapons were made of bronze. They also pioneered the building of massive pyramids and temples.
Egyptians also developed mathematics, an innovative system of medicine, irrigation and agricultural production techniques, writing
and the first ships. In short, the Egyptians left a lasting legacy upon the world.
Around 600 BC the use of metal tools spread across small population bases and farming groups in North Africa, and their use
gradually spread south into what is now called South Africa.
The Phoenicians were an enterprising maritime trading culture from Lebanon who spread across the Mediterranean from 1550 BC
to 300 BC. In 814 BC, they founded the city of Carthage in what is now Tunisia in north Africa; only to be destroyed by the Romans
in 146 BC.
Meanwhile, the Egyptians continued to spread their culture across Northern Africa, and kingdoms were created
in Ethiopia and Sudan. The then-growing Roman Empire continued to expand its influence, and in 30 BC Egypt became a province
of Rome; Morocco the same in 42 AD.
Before the Middle Ages began, the Roman Empire collapsed and the Arabs quickly took their place on the continent. In 698-700 they
invaded Tunis and Carthage and soon controlled all of coastal North Africa. The Arabs were Muslims, and most of North Africa
converted to Islam; Ethiopia was the exception.
Soon kingdoms emerged in Africa; they traded with the Arabs using gold plus a valuable commodity - slaves. One of the first
kingdoms was Ghana, located in what is now southeastern Mauritania and western Mali. The empire grew rich from the transSaharan trade in gold and salt, but then lost its power in the 11th century.
Additional kingdoms developed across the continent, including those in Benin andMali. Both became rich by trading in gold, horse
salt, and of course, slaves. And like most kingdoms before them on any continent, they were invaded and in the end destroyed.
Mogadishu, the now largest city in Somalia, was settled by Arabs who traveled and traded on the east coast of Africa. The Arabs'
reach extended to Zanzibar, which was used as a base for voyages between the Middle East and India.

As other organized kingdoms were formed in central and southern Africa, the Portuguese began to explore the western coast of
Africa. By 1445 they reached theCape Verde Islands and the coast of Senegal, and the mouth of the River Congo in 1482. They
even sailed around the Cape of Good Hope.
The continent-changing 16th Century began with Europeans transporting African slaves to the Americas for profit. A slave purchased
on the African coast for the equivalent of 14 English pounds in bartered goods could sell for 45 pounds in the American market.
The best-known method of commerce at the time was called the Triangular Trading System. It involved Britishand other European
countries' manufactured goods which were shipped to Africa, then slaves from there to the West Indies and then sugar and other
products back to Europe.
At the same time, Barbary pirates along the North African coast captured thousands of ships. From the 16th to 19th century, an
estimated 800,000 to 1.25 million people were taken captive as slaves. The pirates' impact on the continent, however, peaked in the
early to mid-17th century.
As tales of African riches spread north, the Europeans founded their first real colonies in the early 16th century, when
the Portuguese settled in what is nowAngola. Later, the Dutch founded a colony in what is now South Africa.
Strong movements to end slavery began in the late 18th century. France became one of the first countries to abolish slavery in
1794. Britain banned slave trade in 1807, but it was not officially abolished for good until 1848. In some parts of Africa, slave-like
practices continue to this day and have proven difficult to eliminate.
Wholesale colonization of Africa by European countries began in 1814 when theBritish snatched the Dutch Colony of South Africa.
Carved up like a large pie, the Brits, Dutch, French, Germans and Portuguese grabbed all of the available pieces.
By the end of the 19th century, from Algeria to Zimbabwe, and from Botswana toNiger, the continent was now all but controlled
by European powers. In the early 20th century the land grab continued as the British took control of Egypt.
By 1920, the forced occupation of African lands began to sour in Europe, and change was in the wind. Africans were also driven by
their passionate desire for independence and the movement for same became unstoppable. By mid-century most of the continent
was independent, with Angola finally free in 1975.

Self-government brought more than its share of civil wars, coup d'tats and ethnic conflicts to the newly emerged countries. Add to
that mix some horrible genocides, along with famines and out-of-control disease (HIV/AIDS), and Africa was teetering on the edge,
and in many areas still does today.
Although Africa remains the world's poorest inhabited continent, there are many bright spots in this land of over one billion people
and its 2,000 + languages. Significant economic and social gains have taken place over the last few years, withSouth
Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt leading the way.
The largest segments of modern Africa's economies are agriculture and mining, with tourism growing in some areas. Manufacturing
industries have grown large enough to ship products across the planet, and the oil export revenues
of Angola,Libya and Nigeria have the potential to change the lives of millions.
Today the 54 countries of Africa have great potential, but this question must be asked: "Can it change soon enough to meet the
needs of its people?" We can only hope so.
AFRICA GEOGRAPHY FACTS:
For additional geography details please use the yellow navigation bar at the top of this page.

Algeria is Africa's largest country

The Seychelles are Africa's smallest country

Nigeria is Africa's largest country by population

The Seychelles are Africa's smallest country by population

Africa's highest point is Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Africa's lowest point is Lake Assal in Djibouti

AFRICA GEOGRAPHY NOTES:
Two of Africa's most interesting geographical features are the Nile River System and Sahara Desert; both impressive in so many
ways.

Nile River System: The Nile is a north-flowing river considered the longest river in the world at 6,650 km (4,130 mi) long. It is
shared by and benefits eleven countries. The White Nile and Blue Nile are its major tributaries. The White Nile is longer and rises in
the Great Lakes region of central Africa, flowing north from Tanzania to South Sudan. The Blue Nile is the source of most of the
water and both rivers join near Khartoum,Sudan The northern section of the river flows almost entirely through desert, from Sudan
into Egypt. The Nile ends in a large delta that empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
Sahara Desert: It's the world's hottest desert, the third largest desert after Antarctica and the Arctic, and almost as large as
China. Covering almost one-third of the continent, the Sahara is the largest desert in the world at approximately 3,500,000 sq.
miles (9,065,000 sq. km) in total size. Topography includes areas of rock-strewn plains, rolling sand dunes and numerous sand
seas. It ranges in elevation from 100 ft. below sea level, to peaks in the Ahaggar and Tibesti Mountains, that exceed 11,000 ft.
(3,350m). Regional deserts include the Libyan, Nubian and the Western desert of Egypt, just to the west of the Nile. Almost
completely without rainfall, a few underground rivers flow from the Atlas Mountains, helping to irrigate isolated oases. In the east,
the waters of the Nile help fertilize smaller parts of the landscape.

ASIA

As the largest and most populous continent in the world with just over 3.8 billion people, Asia is composed of a wide variety of
ethnic groups, cultures, environments, economics, historical ties, and governmental systems.
Geographically the continent makes up 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area, and 29.5% of its land area.
In the west, Asia is bordered by Europe, the eastern coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, as well by the Sea of Marmara,
the Bosporus Strait, the Black Sea and theCaspian Sea.
In the east, Asia is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, and an almost endless stretch of bays and seas.
The Arctic Ocean and a handful of seas front the northern border, while the Bering Sea separates Asia from North America. In
the southwest the Red Sea and isthmus of Suez separate the continent from Africa.
The Indian Ocean fronts most of Asia's southern borders, along with a series of bays, gulfs and seas, as well as extensive chains of
both inhabited and uninhabited islands.
Asia Geography Notes:
Burma: Military authorities have promoted the name Myanmar since 1989 as the conventional name for their state. That decision
was not (and is not) approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and is not accepted by the U.S. government. However, Myanmar
is widely accepted by numerous countries, and by the United Nations.
Asia Geography Notes: (continued)
European Russia: The Russian landmass west of the Ural Mountains is commonly referred to as European Russiain most
educational atlases, and by the vast majority of geography experts. It is not a separate country, but rather called that because of its
political, cultural and geographical blendings with Europe. For reference purposes it is shown above to the west of the dashed-line,
however, the entire country (as a whole) is still considered part of the continent of Asia.
Middle East: Countries considered part of the Middle East (or West Asia) are shown in a lighter shade of gray. Note that they are all
still a part of the continent of Asia.
Opinions vary as to what countries make up the modern definition of Asia and the Middle East.

Historically,Armenia and Azerbaijan have been long associated with the Middle East, but in recent years, some sources now
consider them to be more closely aligned with Europe based on their modern economic and political trends. We have moved in that
direction, and the same can be said for the island country of Cyprus.
Taiwan is still considered by China to be its 23rd province, and not an independent country. Very few other country governments
accept China's claims of sovereignty over Taiwan.
Turkey is officially, politically and geographically considered part of both Asia and Europe. The small northwestern portion
of Turkey named (Thrace) is a recognized part of Europe, while the largest part (Anatolia) is located in the Middle East, a part of
Asia.

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.7%of the Earth's total surface area (or 29.5% of the total
land area) and with approximately 3.879 billion people (2011 est) it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.

Namesake: Reported by many sources, the word "Asia" first originated from the Ancient Greek word , and used in
440 BC.

Major Languages: The four major ones are Mandarin, Hindi, Russian and Arabic. As for the rest... that's an almost
impossible question to answer as most Asian countries have more than one language that is natively spoken. For instance, more
than 600 languages are spoken in Indonesia, more than 800 languages spoken in India, and more than 100 are spoken in the
Philippines.
Population Density: 87 km (225 mi)
Largest City (by metro population):Tokyo, Japan, 34,607,069
Largest Country (by population):People's Republic of China, 1,357,022,986
Smallest Country (by population):Maldives, 306,000

Continent Size: Asia is the largest continent in area at 43,820,000 sq km, (16,920,000 sq miles)
Percent of Earth's Land: 29.5%
Largest Country: Russia, including European Russia, at 17,075,200 sq km, (6,592,768 sq miles) (see map)
Highest Point: Mt. Everest in Nepal at 29,029ft (8,848m) (see map)
Lowest Point: Dead Sea, Israel and Jordan at -1.388 ft (-423m) below sea level. (see map)
Geographic Center: Located in China at approximately 43 40 N 87 19 E.
(see map)
Horizontal Width: (as the crow flies)From Ankara, Turkey east to Tokyo, Japan: 5,515 miles (8.876 km)
(see map)
Vertical Length: (as the crow flies)From Vorkuta, Russia, south to Jakarta, Indonesia: 5,465 miles (8,795 km)
(see map)
Note: Lengths and widths are point-to-point measurements. They are curved slightly here to indicate curvature of the earth and to
make the map text more readable in some areas

ASIA DESERTS:
Several significant deserts stretch across Asia and the Middle East. Here we highlight on the map and briefly describe the major
ones, including the Arabian, Gobi, Karakum, Kyzylkum, Takla Makan and Thar.
Arabian Desert
The Arabian Desert is a vast desert wilderness stretching from Yemen to the Persian Gulf and from Oman to Jordan and Iraq. This
desert is located in the Middle East, and we have additional details and map at this link:
Gobi Desert

The Gobi Desert is the largest desert in Asia, covering 500,000 square miles. Extending from northern China into Mongolia, the Gobi
Desert receives an average of 7 inches of rainfall each year because the Himalaya mountains block rain clouds from reaching the
region.
Kara Kum Desert
The Kara Kum covers 135,000 square miles, nearly 70 percent of Turkmenistan's land. Because of the desert's location along the
Caspian Sea, the weather in Karakum is milder than many Asian deserts, which typically experience frigid winters and scorching
summers.
Kyzyl Kum Desert
Crossing over Kazakhstan into Uzbekistan, this 115,000 square mile desert features a wide variety of flora and fauna. Though the
area only receives 4 to 8 inches of rain per year, the rain occurs during the region's cooler period so the water does not dissipate
quickly and supports large migratory game.
Takla Makan Desert
China's largest desert extends over 123,550 square miles. Composed primarily of shifting crescent sand dunes, the Takla Makan is
one of the largest sandy deserts in the world. Despite the inhospitable and unpredictable nature of the desert sands, the Chinese
government erected a road across the desert in the mid-1990s.
Thar Desert
Covering 77,000 square miles in India and Pakistan, the Thar Desert is Asia's only subtropical desert. Primarily occupying the Indian
state of Rajasthan, the Thar receives up to 20 inches of rain per year, primarily during the monsoon period from July to September,
and most crops are grown during this rainy season.
ASIA LAKES:
Dozens of significant lakes are found in Asia. Here we highlight a few on the map and (briefly) describe the three most significant
including the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal and the Aral Sea.
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea, located in western Asia on the eastern edges of Europe, is the largest lake on the planet. History records that it's
called a sea because the Romans found it salty, especially in the southern reaches, and the name stuck. Oil and natural gas
production platforms are replete along the edges of the sea. In addition, large quantities of sturgeon live in its waters, and the
caviar produced from their eggs is a valuable commodity. Fresh water flows into the sea via the Volga River and Ural River in the
north, however, the sea remains somewhat salty, central and southThe measured surface area is 371,000 sq km (143,244 sq mi),
and the maximum depth is at 1025 m (3,363 ft). Additional details and map.
Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is positioned in southeastern (Siberia) Russia, directly to the north of Mongolia. Recognized as the oldest (still existing)
freshwater lake on the planet, it is also measured as the deepest continental body of water at 5,315 feet (1,620 m). In addition, it is
the largest freshwater lake by volume, containing an astounding 20% of the planet's fresh water. With a maximum width of 60 miles
(96 km), Lake Baikal is about 389 miles (626 km) in length. Completely surrounded by mountains, over 300 rivers and streams
drain into this massive lake. Detailed map.
Aral Sea
Positioned in far-western Asia, just to the east of the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea is located in the countries of Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan. The Aral Sea is disappearing (evaporating) and is today almost totally polluted by fertilizer runoff, weapon testing
residue left here by the former Soviet Union and careless industrial projects. The mismanagement of its valuable waters is consider
by many experts to be one of the world's worst environmental disasters. Diversion of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for
irrigation began in 1918, and that action, along with other factors have now shrunk the Aral Sea to almost 60% of its former size.
Over the last few years the outlook for the northern reaches of the sea have brightened some, but the lower half is basically
abandoned and the remaining western waters are now predicted to be gone within a decade. Additional details and map.
ASIA MOUNTAINS:
Several significant mountain ranges stretch across Asia. Here we highlight on the map and describe the major ones, including the
Altay, Gahats, Himalayan, Kunlun, Tien Shan, Ural and Zagros Mountains
Altay (or Altai)
The Altay Mountains are a mountain range in East-Central Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together, and
where the rivers Irtysh and Ob have their sources. Belukha Mountain is the highest peak at 4,506 m, (14,784 ft).
Ghats
The Western Ghats are a mountain range along the western side of India with an average elevation around 1,200 m, (3,900 ft). The
Eastern Ghats are a range of mountains along India's eastern coast. The highest point is Jindhagada Peak at 1,690 m (5,545 ft).
Himalayas
The Himalayas, a huge mountain range immediately at the north of the Indian subcontinent, is the world's highest mountain range,
and home to the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest at 8,848 m (29,029 ft), and K2 at 8,611 m (28,251 feet) above sea
level. The Himalayan system includes over 100 mountains exceeding 7,200 m (23,600 ft).
Kunlun
The Kunlun Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, extending across wester China and the Tibetan Plateau. The
highest mountain is the Kunlun Goddess at 7,167 m (23,514 ft).
Tien (or Tian) Shan

The Tian Shan is a large mountain system located in Central Asia. It's positioned to the north and west of the Taklamakan Desert
near the border region of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and western China. The highest peak is Victory Peak at 7,439 m (24,406 ft).
Ural
The Urals are 1,640 miles (2,640 km) in length and extend from the northern-edge of the Russian Federation down through
Kazakhstan. They form a natural border between Asia and Europe Russia. The highest point in this mountain range is Mt. Narodnaya
at 1,895 m (6,217 ft).
Zagros
The Zagros are the largest mountain range in Iran and Iraq spaning the whole length of the western and southwestern Iranian
plateau and ending at the Strait of Hormuz. The highest point is Zard Kuhbakhtiari at 4,548 m, (14,921 ft).
ASIA RIVERS:
Dozens of significant rivers rise in Asia. Here we highlight a few on the map and (briefly) describe some of the most significant ones,
including the Ganges, Indus, Lena, Mekong, Ob, Yangtze and Yellow.
Ganges
The Ganges is the most sacred river to Hindus and is also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it
for their daily needs. It is 1,560 miles (2,510 km) in length.
Lena
The Lena is the easternmost of the three great Siberian rivers that flow into the Arctic Ocean (the other two being the Ob River and
the Yenisei River). It is the 11th longest river in the world at 2,734 miles (4,400 km).
Indus
The Indus River originates in Tibet and flows through India and Pakistan. It provides water resources for the economy of Pakistan especially the Breadbasket of the southeast, which accounts for most of the nation's agricultural production. It is 1,800 miles (2,900
km) in length.
Mekong
The Mekong is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is 3,050 (4,909 km) and it provides
inland transportation for the millions living along its banks, and tributaries
Ob
The Ob is a major river in western Siberia, Russia. The Ob is used mostly for irrigation, drinking water, hydroelectric energy, and
fishing. It's 2,268 miles (3,650 km) in length.

Yangtze
China's Yangtze is the longest river in Asia, and the fourth longest in the world at 3,915 miles (6,301 km). The Yangtze drains onefifth of the land area of the People's Republic of China and its river basin is home to one-third of China's population.
Yellow
The Yellow River is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at 3,395 miles (5,464 km) in length. It's
called "the cradle of Chinese civilization" as its basin specifically, the Wei valley was the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilizations
and the most prosperous region in early Chinese history.
ASIA "LONGEST" RIVERS:
This list highlights the Asian continent's thirty longest rivers.
Yangtze - 3,915 miles
Yellow - 3,395 miles
Mekong - 3,050 miles
Lena - 2,734 miles
Irtysh - 2,640 miles
Yenisei - 2,540 miles
Ob - 2,268 miles
Lower Tunguska, 1,857 miles
Indus - 1,800 miles
Brahmaputra - 1,800 miles
Amur - 1,755 miles
Salween - 1,749 miles
Euphrates - 1,740 miles
Vilyuy - 1,647 miles
Amu Darya - 1,578 miles
Ganges - 1,560 miles
Ishim - 1,522 miles
Ural - 1,509 miles
Olenyok - 1,424 miles
Aldan - 1,412 miles
Syr Darya - 1,374 miles
Ayeyarwady - 1,350 miles
Kolyma - 1,323 miles
Tarim - 1,260 miles
Vitim - 1,229 miles

Xi - 1,200 miles
Sungari - 1,197 miles
Tigris - 1,180 miles
Tunguska - 1,159 miles
Angara - 1,105 miles

EUROPE

EUROPE HISTORY:

As for Europe, a brief chronological account of its significant events begins during prehistoric times with the emergence of Homo
sapiens (early man), roughly 40,000 years ago.
Early inhabitants during the Paleolithic Age, in an effort to survive, grouped together into small societies such as bands, and

subsisted by gathering plants and hunting for wild animals.

The practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops and raising livestock began in the Neolithic Age some 9,000 years ago; stone
tools were used and people began to live in small groups, or villages.
As man continued to journey east-to-west across Eurasia(a combination of Asia and Europe), knowledge of tools and new methods
of organization arrived; civilizations flourished as metal axes and arrowheads improved survival.
In the 8th century BC, Greece began to emerge from the Dark Ages. Classical Greek culture had a powerful influence on the Roman
Empire, which carried a version of it to many parts of the Mediterranean region and Northern Europe. In short, the Greek culture
provided the foundation of modern Western culture.

Of the great civilizations to develop in Europe, the previously mentioned Roman Empire certainly had the most lasting influence.
During its often tumultuous 500-year period of innovation, it changed the continent and had a profound and lasting influence on the
development of modern architecture, language, law and religion.
After its collapse, the Eastern Roman Empire survived (285-1450) as the Byzantine Empire. In Western Europe, a wide series of
tribes and tribal alliances moved into positions of power in the remnants of the former Roman Empire; small kingdoms were
established, and the geography of Western Europe was about to change.
The Kingdom of the Franks was a southeastern European territory inhabited and ruled by the Franks. They would evolve into the
Kingdom of France, and parts of it would morph into the Holy Roman Empire, a forerunner to the Germany we know today.
Anglo-Saxons soon crossed (what is now) the English Channel to southern Britain and established a series of kingdoms in what
would eventually develop into the Kingdom ofEngland by AD 927; 100 years later the Kingdoms of Poland and Hungary would
also take shape.
The Viking Age in Northern Europe and Scandinavia spanned the late 8th to mid-13th centuries. With little interest in land
acquisition, the Scandinavian (Norse) Vikings aggressively explored Europe for trade and riches. The Vikings also
reached Iceland,Greenland, Newfoundland and Anatolia (Turkey).
The Normans (a Viking people) gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. Initially emerging in the first half of the
10th century, they had a significant impact on many parts of Europe, from the Norman conquest of England to
southern Italy and Sicily.
By the end of the 15th century, great powers emerged in Europe, with England, France, The
Netherlands, Portugal and Spain playing predominant roles in global affairs from the 15th century onward, especially after the
beginning of colonialism.
The European colonial period, the 1500s to the mid-1900s, was the era when the European powers mentioned above established
colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Between the 16th and 20th centuries, European nations, at various times, controlled
the Americas (north and south), most ofAfrica, Oceania and large portions of Asia.
As people craved freedom across the globe, the European colonial era began to fall apart. Specifically the British Empire, the first

genuinely global empire, began to lose its powers in Africa, India and much of the Middle East, and they soon crumbled away.
Also damaging to the continent were World Wars I and II, as they were largely focused upon Europe. The enormous costs of both
wars greatly contributed to a decline in Western European dominance in world affairs, and some Eastern European countries have
not yet fully recovered.
After the Berlin Wall came down on November 9, 1989, and after the fall of the Soviet Unionin 1991, Europe certainly changed for
the better. European cultures and factions soon integrated, the Council of Europe was formed and the European Union (EU)
blossomed in Western Europe.
Today, it's safe to say that Europe is a major economical and political center of power. As for its people, they are an innovative,
optimistic and resilient group who changed our world for the better more than once, and surely they will do it again. In fact, you can
take that to the bank!

EUROPE MAP:
Europe is the planet's 6th largest continent AND includes 47 countries and assorted dependencies, islands and territories. Europe's
recognized surface area covers about 9,938,000 sq km (3,837,083 sq mi) or 2% of the Earth's surface, and about 6.8% of its land
area.
In exacting geographic definitions, Europe is really not a continent, but part of the peninsula of Eurasia which includes all of Europe and
Asia. However, it's still widely referred to as an individual continent.
The European continent, bordered by numerous bodies of water, is separated from Asia by Russia's Ural Mountains and by the Caspian
and Black Seas. It is separated from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea.

EUROPE GEOGRAPHY FACTS:

For additional geography details please use the yellow navigation bar at the top of this page. Note that some stats shown below are
found in European Russia, even though that landmass is geographically considered a part of Russia, an Asian country.

Ukraine is Europe's largest country

The Vatican is Europe's smallest country
Germany is Europe's largest country by population
The Vatican is Europe's smallest country by population
Europe's highest point is Mt. Elbrus in Russia
Europe's lowest point is the Caspian Sea bordering Russia
Europe's highest point is Mt. Blanc in France and Italy
Europe's lowest point is Lemmefjord in Denmark
EUROPE GEOGRAPHY NOTES:

The Russian landmass west of the Ural Mountains is commonly referred to as European Russia in most educational atlases, and by
the vast majority of geography experts. It is not a separate country, but rather called that because of its long term political, cultural and
geographical blending with the bordering European countries. For reference purposes it is shown above, however, the entire country (as
a whole) is still considered part of the continent of Asia.
European Russia comprising roughly 3,960,000 sq. km (1,528,560 sq. miles) and spans across approximately 40% of Europe. Its
Eastern border is defined by the Ural Mountains and in the South it is defined by the border with Kazakhstan. Note that nearly 77% of
the entire Russian population (about 110,000,000 people out of an approximate total Russian population of 141,000,000) lives in
European Russia.

Namesake: The name "Europe" comes from Greek mythology. The continent was actually named after Europa, a Phoenician
princess that Zeus abducted after he assumed the form of an impressive white bull.
Major Languages: Languages vary greatly across the entire European continent. The 'Romance Languages' of French, Italian
and Spanish are the most prevalent. English and Germanic languages are used in many places. Slavic languages are spoken in eastern
Europe, and to the north, Scandinavian and Baltic languages are ubiquitous from Iceland east to European Russia.
Population: 738,199,000 (2012)
It is the third most populous continent, after Asia and Africa
Population Density: 70 per sq km (181 per sq mi)

Largest European Countries By Populations: (2011 estimates)

Germany: 81,471,834
France: 65,102,719
United Kingdom: 62,698,362
Italy: 61,016,804
Spain: 46,754,784
Ukraine: 45,134,707
Poland: 38,441,588
Romania: 21,904,551

Netherlands: 16,847,007
Portugal: 10,760,305
Greece: 10,760,136
Belgium 10,431,477
Czech Republic 10,190,213
Belarus 9,577,552
Sweden 9,366,092
Belarus 8,372,930

Continent Size: 9,938,000 sq km, 3,837,081 sq miles

The only continent smaller in area is Australia/Oceania
Percent of Earth's Land: 6.8%
Highest Point: Mt Elbrus in Russia, 18,506 ft (5,642m) (see map)
Lowest Point: Caspian Sea, Russia (-92 ft) (-28m) (see map)
Geographic Center: The geographic center of Europe is difficult to determine because of the continent's ambiguous borders.
However, the most accepted answer is 54 54' N 25 19' E in the town of Vilnius, Lithuania. (see map)
Horizontal Width: 1,339 miles (2,154 km) from London, England, east to Kiev, Ukraine (see map)

Vertical Length: 2,076 miles (3,341 km) from Iraklio, Crete, north to Lulea, Sweden: (see map)
Note: Lengths and widths are point-to-point, straight-line measurements and will vary some using other map projections.
Largest European Countries: (by land area)
Ukraine: 603,700 sq km
France: 547,030 sq km
Spain: 504,782 sq km
Sweden: 449,964 sq km
Germany: 357,021 sq km
Finland: 338,445 sq km
Norway: 323,802 sq km
Poland: 312,685 sq km
Italy: 301.220 sq km UK: 244,820 sq km

Alps:
Located in south-central Europe, they extend for almost 700 miles from the coastline of southern France (near Monaco) into
Switzerland, northern Italy and Austria, then southeast through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina as the (Dinaric Alps). They

end

in

Albania

on

the

rugged

coastline

of

the

Adriatic

Sea.

Known for stunning scenery, glaciers, lakes and valleys and the best skiing conditions on the planet, they're the source of many rivers
and
tributaries
including
the Danube,Po,Rhine
and
Rhone.
The highest point is Mont Blanc at 15,771 ft. (4,807 m)
Apennines:
The source of almost all rivers in Italy including the Arno, Tiber, and Volturno, the Apennines Mountains (Ital. Appennino) 830 miles
(1,350 km) in length, form the backbone of the country, and run the entire length of the Italian Peninsula, ending on the island of
Sicily.
The highest point is Mt. Corno at 9,560 ft. (2,914 m).
Atlantic Highlands:
Formed million of years ago during the Caledonian mountain-building periods as western lands were (forced) or pushed against the
Scandinavian Shield. Significant mountain ranges here include the Kjolen in Norway and Sweden, and the Pennines that stretch through
the central United Kingdom.
Balkan Mountains
These

mountains

extend

from

Yugoslavia

across

Bulgaria.

Additional rangesrun

through

Albania,

Greece

and

Macedonia.

Its most famous mountain is Mt. Olympus, the highest and most awe-inspiring peak in all of Greece. In ancient times it was the
mythical home of Zeus, and was declared the first national park in Greece in 1939. It stands at 9,568 ft. (2,918 m).
Carpathian Mountains
This mountain system located in eastern Europe is the source of the Dniester, Tisza and Vistula Rivers. They form the natural border
between
Slovakia
and
southern
Poland,
and
then
extend
southward
through
Ukraine
and
into
Romania.

There are major subdivisions, and the highest point is Mt. Gerlachovkain in northern Slovakia, standing at 8,711 ft. (2,655 m).
Caucasus Mountains
Stretching from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, these volcanic mountains have many peaks above 15,000 ft. (4,572 m).
The highest point (and the highest point in Europe) is located here; Mt. Elbrusat 18,506 ft. (5,642 m)
Great
Hungarian
Plain
Located in southeastern Europe, and surrounded by mountains, the land features several small forests and large patches of grassland.
It averages only 100 meters above sea level and often suffers from dry conditions, thus relying on winter snow run-off from the Alps
and
Carpathian
Mountains.
Kjolen
Mountains
This jagged mountain system runs along the border of eastern Norway and western Sweden. The highest point is Mt. Kebnekaise,
standing
at
6,965
ft.
(2,123
m).
Massif
Central
This mountainous plateau of southeastern France is the source of the Allier, Creuse and Loire. It's about 32,189 sq. miles (85, 001 sq.
km)
in
size,
and
the
highest
point
is
Puy
de
Sancy
at
6,186
ft.
(1,885
m).
Mesata
The central plateau, or Mesata, covers nearly half of the entire country of Spain. This high plateau averages about 2,300 ft. (700 m) in
the
north,
and
2,000
ft.
(600
m)
in
the
south.
It's surrounded by a series of mountain ranges including the Cantabrian, Sierra De Gata and Sierra Guadarrama in the north and
central,
and
the
Sierra
Morena
and
Sierra
Nevada
in
the
south.
These mountains separate the Meseta from the Costa Verde, the Ebro valley, the Mediterranean and the valleys of Andalucia.
North

European

Plain

The fertile North European Plain slopes to the north-northeast from the Alps, extending to the Baltic Sea, and on into Denmark and
southern Finland, Norway and Sweden. It continues east for almost 2,500 miles (4000 km), on into the Russian Federation.
The land is largely flat with smaller areas of hills, including the Central Russian Uplands. Farming is prevalent and agricultural
communities
dot
the
landscape.
Pyrenees
These mountains form the natural border between France and Spain and extend for about 270 miles from the Bay of Biscay to
the Mediterranean
Sea.
The
highest
point
is
Pico
de
Aneto
at
11,168
ft.
(3,404
m)
Scandinavian
Shield
An ancient area of rocky earth peppered with granite rock that was literally ground down by receding glacial ice sheets. It's a rolling
area
of
land
covered
with
thousands
of
lakes
(mostly
small),
linked
by
rivers.
Ural
Mountains
The Urals are 1,640 miles (2,640 km) in length and extend from the northern-edge of the Russian Federation down through Kazakhstan.
They
form
a
natural
border
between Asia
and
Europe.
The highest point is Mt. Narodnaya at 6,214 ft. (1,894 m).

NORTH AMERICA:

NORTH AMERICA HISTORY:

Anthropologists believe that North America's initial inhabitants arrived around 40,000 years ago by traversing the Bering Strait. Some
experts feel that by using primitive boats, early man also migrated down the Pacific coast to South America; that debate continues.
There is scientific evidence connecting indigenous Americans to Asian peoples, specifically from the eastern Siberian populations.

Indigenous peoples of the Americas have been linked to North Asian populations by linguistic dialects and blood types.
After the last glacial period ended some 12,500 years back, a wide variety of prehistoric cultures developed across the continent, north
to south. The development of stone tools was one of the factors instrumental in that successful

expansion.
Long before the Europeans arrived, small groups developed throughout the Americas.Across the Great Plains hunter-gatherers
existed on wild plants and animals, but they were eventually replaced by more sophisticated bands that farmed the land, raised some
animals and improved their hunting skills.
At about the time of Christ, the brown-skinned Arawak People migrated fromVenezuela to the Lesser Antilles. Small groups settled
on many islands in the southeastern Caribbean, eventually reaching the Greater Antilles, creating their largest settlements on the
islands of Cuba,Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica
In the far-southern reaches of the continent important cultural advances were made by the Maya civilization. They developed written

language, as well as far-reaching advances in art, architecture, astronomical systems and mathematics. From the years 250 to 900,
they were at the pinnacle of their power.
In North America, sophisticated pre-Columbian cultures continued to develop. Across regions of what is now the United States, social
organization were building mound complexes, with some supporting sizable communities year-round.
Native American societies continued to spread; the Inuit and the Aleut lived in domed-shaped dwellings in the Arctic regions while large
groups inhabited the Subarctic parts of Alaska and western Canada. From the Northeast to the Southeast, and from the Plains to the
Southwest, the expansion continued unabated.
As large groups gained additional knowledge, they began to farm some familiar crops now used around the world, such as tomatoes and
squash. Perhaps most importantly they developed farming techniques for one of the planet's major foods, maize (corn).

The Vikings were seafaring north Germanic people who raided, traded, explored, and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia, and the
North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th centuries. Using sturdy wooden longships they traveled as far west as
Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland. Leif Erikson is believed to have reached the Island of Newfoundland, Canada - circa 1000
AD
In the 13th century, central Mexico was the center of the Aztec civilization. The Mayan culture was fading and the Aztec Empire now
stretched across most of Mesoamerica, fromMexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador,Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa
Rica.

In 1492, after proposing a voyage of discovery to the then mostly-imagined New World, Christopher Columbus left Spain on an epic
journey, financed by Isabella I and Ferdinand II, Queen and King of Spain. Within a few months he reached land in the Bahamas, and
North America would change forever.
After Columbus made his initial voyage to this New World, word of its potential riches spread across Europe and explorers and settlers
by the thousands would eventually step ashore along the Atlantic Ocean coastline of North America.
John Cabot explored the east coast of what would become Canada in 1497. Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the East Coast of North
America from Florida to eastern Canada in 1524, and Jacques Cartier made a series of voyages on behalf of the French crown in 1534
and penetrated the St. Lawrence River.
In 1500, the Spanish made their move to colonize parts of the New World. The city of Nueva Cdiz was founded on the Venezuela island
of Cubaqua. In 1510 they established Santa Mara la Antigua del Darien near the border of Colombia andPanama: these were the
first European settlements in the Americas.
The first mainland Spanish explorations were a series of inland expeditions that led to the conquest of Mexico and the Yucatan
Peninsula. In 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama to find gold, but instead led the first European

expedition to the Pacific Ocean and the west coast of the New World.
Balboa then claimed the Pacific Ocean and all the lands adjoining it for the Spanish Crown. Hernan Cortes and his conquistadors came
ashore at present day Veracruz, Mexicoon April 22, 1519, and it marked the beginning of 300 years of dominate Spanish influence
over most of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
In 1539, Hernando de Soto landed at Tampa Bay in what is now the US State of Florida. With 600 soldiers in tow, his goal was to find
gold for the Spanish Crown. At that same time natives on the continent lived without fear as they were ignorant of the outside world.
Soon their innocence disappeared, as Europeans began to stake their claims, frequently in brutal ways.

As a result of European exploration the Native American population declined substantially, primarily due to the introduction of European
diseases to which the Native Americans lacked immunity, as well as from violent conflicts where they were no match for European fire
power.
Not to be outdone, Britain and France (as well as Spain) were beginning to establish extensive territories in the northern reaches of
the continent. Even lesser-powers like the Netherlands and Sweden laid claim to smaller parts.
The first French settlements were established at Port Royal (1604) and Quebec City(1608) in what is now Nova Scotia and Quebec,
Canada. In 1607, the first successful English settlement was built at Jamestown, Virgina, followed by thePlymouth,
Massachusetts colony in 1620.
Near the end of the 17th century the colonialism of North America was at full speed, and inevitable disagreements and greed were the
genesis for a series of regional wars, and some of the European territories changed hands multiple times. In fact, the Caribbean island
of Tobago changed hands 33 times.

In the middle of the 18th century, independence movements were on the front-burner across the
continent. An American Revolution was brewing within the English colonies, Spain's hold on Mexico was weakening and slave revolts
were common in the Caribbean.
By the end of the century, a handful of independence movements came to fruition across the North America continent. The 13 original
British Colonies declared independence in 1776, and after the American Revolutionary War ended in 1783, they became the United
States of America.Canada was formed from the unification of northern territories once controlled byBritain and France.
The new country of America's 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France almost doubled its size overnight. This massive transfer of land
included all of present-dayArkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa; most of Colorado,South
Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, as well as significant parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, Texas and Louisiana.
New Spain, a territory that stretched from the southwestern modern-day U.S. through Central America declared independence in
1810, becoming the First Mexican Empire. Guatemala, then part of that Mexican Empire, became the first independent state in Central
America.

For many reasons, including the possibility of America's interest in annexing Canada, the War of 1812
began when the United Statesdeclared war on the British. The 32-month military conflict (fought on many fronts) resulted in no
territorial change between the British Empire and the USA, but a resolution of many issues which remained from the American War of
Independence.
With space too limited here to detail, we highlight a series of important land agreements and compromises that occurred in North
America through the end of the 19th century. They include: The Republic of Texas formed as an independent sovereign nation in 1836;
the Rebellions of 1837 in Lower and Upper Canada; the creation of the Mexican Empire, with the support of Napoleon III of France in
1864, and the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867.
Arguably, the two most devastating events on the North America continent were the American Civil War (from 1861 to 1865), a conflict
that led to the end of slavery in the United States, but it brought destruction to most of the South, and a tremendous loss of life. It was
followed by the United States government fighting numerous Indian Wars against the Native Americans for land acquisition; tens of
thousands died as a result.
Following the Civil War, America's intervention into Latin America and elsewhere expanded. The 1867 Alaska Purchase was the
acquisition of what is now the US State of Alaska from the Russian Empire. During the SpanishAmerican War of 1898, the US seized
several colonies from Spain including Cuba and Puerto Rico.

In 1914, the Panama Canal opened. the 48-mile (77.1 km) ship canal in Panama connecting the Atlantic
Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean enabled ships to avoid the lengthy Cape Horn route around the southernmost tip
of South America.
At the end of World War I (fought from 1914 to 1918 in Europe) the early 20th century brought an age of great prosperity to the United
States, and to a lesser degree Canada. But the Stock Market Crash of 1929 was the most devastating stock market crash in the history
of the United States, and that crash affected all Western industrialized countries and did not end in the United States until the onset of
American mobilization for World War II in 1941.
In Mexico, from 1936 to 1949, there was a popular uprising against the anti-Catholic government. In the Caribbean, many islands
witnessed the beginnings of decolonization, while on the island of Cuba, the Cuban Revolution introduced the Soviet Union (now Russia)
into Latin America.
World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's nationsincluding all of the
great powers, including Canada and the US. The destruction of Europe wrought by the war vaulted all North American countries to more
important roles in world affairs, and the United States emerged as a "superpower."
Mexico also experienced an era of huge economic growth after World War II, a heavy industrialization process and a growth of its middle
class, a period known in Mexican history as the "El Milagro Mexicano" (Mexican miracle). In 1960,Guatemala, El
Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua banded together to find a common economic bond.
In 1962, Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago became politically independent. This event ushered in a period of formal
decolonization of the English-speaking Caribbean. Since 1962, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago were joined by Antigua,the
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent.
The early Cold War era saw the United States as the most powerful nation in a Western coalition of which Mexico and Canada were
also a part. At home, the United States witnessed violent change especially in the area of race relations. In Canada this was mirrored by

the Quiet Revolution and the emergence of Quebec nationalism.

During this time the United States became involved in the Vietnam War. That war would later prove to be highly divisive in American
society, and American troops were withdrawn. Canada during this era was dominated by the leadership of Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
Eventually in 1982 at the end of his tenure, Canada had a new constitution.

Major changes continued into the 21st century: Mexico experienced a strong economic recession in the
1980s, the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement was reached in January 1989, and on January 1, 1994, Canada, Mexico and
the United States of America signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, creating the world's largest free trade area.
Those major economic events were followed by the 9/11 attacks on the United States, and the subsequent war in Afghanistan participated in by Canada and the US. In 2006, the violent drug war spread from Central America to Canada, and that human tragedy
reached a deadly peak in Mexico in the last few years. In 2008, a financial crisis that began the United States eventually triggered a
worldwide recession, an economic slowdown that has now wained some.
Surviving powerful earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, contentious immigration issues and isolated terrorism attacks, the twentythree countries and the dozens of possessions and territories within North America have found ways to (for the most part) co-exist in
peace, and to economically benefit by working together. Today the diverse and massive continent of North America present a bright
potential future for all of its people, and for that matter, much of the modern world.
NORTH AMERICA MAP:
North America, the planets 3rd largest continent, includes (23) countries and dozens of possessions and territories. It contains all
Caribbean and Central America countries, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, the United States of America, as well as Greenland - the worlds
largest island.
Positioned in the planet's northern and western hemispheres, it's bordered in the north by the Arctic Ocean, in the east by the Atlantic
Ocean, in the southeast by the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.

Additional North American countries (not shown on this map) include: Antigua and
Barbuda,Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad &
Tobago.

NORTH AMERICA GEOGRAPHY NOTES:

Two of North America's most interesting geographical features are the Great Plains and the Mississippi River System; both impressive in
so many ways.
Great Plains: The Great Plains of North America slope east from the Rockies and extend to the edge of the Canadian Shield and the
western edges of the Appalachians. The land is generally smooth with large treeless areas and shallow river valleys. Minor hills and
mountains are found in the Ozark Plateau of Missouri, and in the Boston Mountains and Ouachita Mountains of northwestern Arkansas
and eastern Oklahoma. Sandhills and buttes cover parts of the north central U.S. in Nebraska.
Mississippi River System: It is the major river of North America and the United States at (2,339 miles) (3,765 km) in length. It flows
from northwestern Minnesota south to the Gulf of Mexico, just below the city of New Orleans. It is a significant transportation artery and
when combined with its major tributaries (the Missouri and Ohio rivers) it becomes the third largest river system in the world at (3,877
miles) (6,236 km) in length.
NORTH AMERICA GEOGRAPHY FACTS:
Percent of Earth's Land: 16.5%
Highest Point: Mt McKinley in Alaska, 20,322ft (6,194m) (see map)
Lowest Point: Death Valley in California, -282 ft (-86m) below sea level (see map)
Geographic Center: The United States Geographical Survey states that the geographic center of North America is "6 miles west
of Balta, Pierce County, North Dakota" at approximately 48 10 N 100 10 W. (see map)
Horizontal Width: From San Francisco, California, east to New York City, NY: 2,582 miles (4,156 km) (see map)

Vertical Length: From Barrow, Alaska, directly southeast to Panama City, Panama: 5,347 miles (8,605 km) (see map)
Note: Lengths and widths are point-to-point, straight-line measurements and will vary some using other map projections.
Note: For additional geography details please use the yellow navigation bar at the top of this page

Namesake: Americo Vespucci, the Italian explorer

Major Languages: English, French and Spanish

Population: 528,720,588 (2012 est)

It's the fourth most populous continent, after Asia, Africa, and Europe

Population Density: 22.9 km2 (59.3 sq mi)

Jamaica: 2,730,000

Trinidad & Tobago: 1,344,000

Bahamas: 346,000

Belize: 322,100

Barbados: 257,000

Saint Lucia: 174,000

St. Vincent & the Grenadines:109,000

Grenada: 104,000

Antigua & Barbuda: 89,000

Dominica: 67,000

Saint Kitts & Nevis: 38,960

North America Country Populations:

(23 countries - 2010 estimates)

United States: 309,975,000

Mexico: 108,396,211

Canada: 34,207,000

Guatemala: 14,377,000

Cuba: 11,204,000

Dominican Republic: 10,225,000

Haiti: 10,188,000

Honduras: 7,616,000

El Salvador: 6,194,000

Nicaragua: 5,822,000

Costa Rica: 4,640,000

Panama: 3,322,576

Continent Size: 24,474,000 sq km, 9,449,460 sq miles

It's the third-largest continent in area, following Asia and Africa.

Percent of Earth's Land: 16.5%

Highest Point: Mt McKinley in Alaska, 20,322ft (6,194m) (see map)

Lowest Point: Death Valley in California, -282 ft (-86m) below sea level.

Geographic Center: The United States Geographical Survey states that the geographic center of North America is "6 miles
west of Balta, Pierce County, North Dakota" at approximately 48 10 N 100 10 W. (see map)

Horizontal Width: From San Francisco, California, east to New York City, NY: 2,582 miles (4,156 km) (see map)

Vertical Length: From Barrow, Alaska, directly southeast to Panama City, Panama: 5,347 miles (8,605 km) (see map)
Note: Lengths and widths are point-to-point, straight-line measurements and will vary some using other map projections.
Largest North American Countries: (by land area)

Canada: 9,984,670 sq km

United States: 9,826,630 sq km

Mexico: 1,923,040 sq km

Nicaragua: 120,254 sq km

Honduras: 112,090 sq km

Cuba: 110,860 sq km

Guatemala: 108,890 sq km

Panama: 78,200 sq km

Costa Rica: 51,100 sq km

Dominican Republic: 48,730 sq km

Alaska Range:
Mountains of south-central Alaska that extend from the Alaska Peninsula to the border of the Yukon Territory, Canada. The highest
point in North America, Mt. McKinley, 20,320 ft. (6,194 m) is located here.
Appalachian Mountains:
The Appalachians, about 1,500 miles in length, extend from central Alabama in the U.S. up through the New England states and the
Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Quebec.
Significant Appalachian ranges include:

The Cumberland Mts. in Tennessee

The Blue Ridge Mts. in Virginia

The Alleghenies in Pennsylvania

The Catskills Mts. in New York

The Green Mts. in Vermont

The White Mts. of New Hampshire

The highest point is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina at 6,684 ft (2,037 m)

Brooks Range:
Mountains of northern Alaska. Highest point: Mt. Isto, 9,060 ft. (2,760 m)
Canadian Shield:
This plateau region of eastern and northern Canada and the Great Lakes area of North America mainly includes rough and rocky
surfaces, and large areas of coniferous (evergreen) forests. In addition, the northern regions along the Arctic Circle are comprised of
rocky frozen tundra. The highest elevation is estimated at 1,640 ft (500 meters).
Cascades:
A mountain range stretching from northeastern California across Oregon and Washington. Major peaks included Mt. Hood, Mt.
Ranier, and Mt. St. Helens.

Coast Range:
Mountains running along the Pacific Ocean coastlines of California, Oregon, Washington. They also extend along the western border
of British Columbia, Canada, and the southern edge of Alaska, all the way to Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island.
Coastal Plain:
This area of the southern and southeastern U.S extends to the continental shelf and is generally characterized by level (flat) land
with assorted mixed forests. The coastal areas include bayous, deltas, marshes, mud flats and swamps.
Continental Divide:
In North America the Western Continental Divide is an imaginary line that sits atop a continuous ridge of mountain summits that
divide the continent into two main drainage areas. Details and map.
Great Plains:
The Great Plains of North America slope east from the Rockies and extend to the edge of the Canadian Shield and the western edges
of the Appalachians. The land is generally smooth with large treeless areas and shallow river valleys. Minor hills and mountains are
found in the Ozark Plateau of Missouri, and in the Boston Mountains and Ouachita Mountains of northwestern Arkansas and eastern
Oklahoma. Sandhills and buttes cover parts of the north central U.S. in Nebraska.
Rivers:

Rocky Mountains:
The Rocky Mountains, about 3,000 miles in length, extend from the U.S State of New Mexico up through the western United States
and on into the northern most reaches of Canada's British Columbia. Major mountain ranges include...

Absaroka

Bear River

Beaverhead

Big Belt

Big Horn

Bitterroots

Canadian

Clearwater

Columbia

Front

Guadalupe

Laramie

Lemhi

Lewis

Lost River

Medicine Bow

Monashee

Owyhee

Purcell

Sacramento

Salmon River

San Andres

Sangre de Cristo

Sawatch

Shoshone

Steens

Stillwater

Swan

Tetons

Unita

Wallowa

Wasatch

Wind River

Wyoming

Zuni

The highest point in the Rockies is Mt. Elbert, located 10 miles southwest of Leadville, Colorado. It stands at 14,433 ft (4,399
meters).

Sierra Madres:
Sierra Madres include two major ranges, and one smaller one. The Sierra Madre Occidental runs parallel to Mexico's Pacific Ocean
coastline, with several peaks exceeding 10,000 ft. (3,034 meters) The Sierra Madre Oriental runs parallel to its Gulf of Mexico
coastline, with a few mountains reaching 10,000 ft. (3,034 meters)The Sierra Madre del Sur range is located in the southern
Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca.
Sierra Madres, and mountains of the Caribbean and Central America:
The Sierra Madres also extend southeast into many of the Central America countries, with most being rainforest-covered
volcanos.
Additional mountain ranges in Central America and the Caribbean include:

Cordillera Central (Dominican Republic)

Cordillera de Talamanca (Costa Rica)

Cordillera Isabelia (Honduras/Nicaragua)

Maya Mountains (Belize)

Sierra de Bahoruco (Haiti)

Serrania de Tabasara (Panama)

Sierra Maestra (Cuba)

Sierra Nevada:
This mountain range of eastern California is about 400 miles in length. The highest point is Mt. Whitney at 14,494 ft. (4,418
meters).

SOUTH AMERICA

South America, the planet's 4th largest continent, includes (12) independent countries and (3) major territories; the Falkland
Islands, Galapagos Islands and French Guiana.

The continent contains the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela; the largest river (by volume), the Amazon River;
the longest mountain range, theAndes, and the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile.
In addition, it includes the largest rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest; the highest capital city, La Paz, Bolivia; the highest
commercially navigable lake in the world,Lake Titicaca; and, excluding research stations in Antarctica, the world's southernmost
permanently inhabited community, Puerto Toro, Chile.

Namesake: Americo Vespucci, the Italian explorer

Major Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English, Dutch, French, Italian, Arabic, and dozens of indigenous languages

Population: 379,500,000 (2009 est)

It's the fifth most populous continent, after Asia, Africa, Europe and North America
Population Density: 21.4 sq km (56.0 sq mi)
Top 10 Largest Cities: (see map)
(by metro population)

Sao Paulo, Brazil: 18,505,100

Buenos Aires, Argentina: 12,923,800

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 11,246,600

Bogota, Colombia: 7,798,000

Lima, Peru: 7,603,500

Santiago, Chile: 5,636,800

Belo Horizonte, Brazil: 4,413,800

Salvador, Brazil: 3,173,500

Fortaleza, Brazil: 2,976,200

Cali, Colombia: 2,800.600

Largest Countries:
(by population - 2008 est)

Brazil: 193,891,867

Colombia: 45,656,990

Argentina: 40,085,130

Peru: 29,368,000

Venezuela: 29,132,000

Chile: 17,295,000

Ecuador: 14,228,000

Bolivia: 9,182,000

Paraguay: 6,158,000

Uruguay: 3,463,000

Guyana: 751,000

Suriname: 499,000

Continent Size: 17,819,000 sq km, 6,879,000 sq miles

It's the fourth-largest continent in area, following Asia, Africa and North America

Percent of Earth's Land: 12%

Highest Pt: Cerro Aconcagua, Andes Mtns, Argentina 22,833ft (6,959m) (see map)

Lowest Pt: Peninsula Valdes, Argentina -151 ft (-40m) below sea level

Geographic Center: Chapada dos Guimares, in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil; at 15 27 S 55 44 W. (see map)

Horizontal Width: From Lima, Peru, to Fortaleza, Brazil: 2,705 miles (4,353 km)

Vertical Length: From Cartagena, Colombia, south to Ushuaia, Argentina: 4,443 miles (7,149 km) (see map)
Note: Lengths and widths are point-to-point, straight-line measurements and will vary some using other map projections.
Largest South American Countries: (by land area)

Brazil: 8,514,877 sq km

Argentina: 2,766,890 sq km

Peru: 1,285,220 sq km

Colombia: 1,138,910 sq km

Bolivia: 1,098,580 sq km

Venezuela: 912,050 sq km

Chile: 756,950 sq km

Paraguay: 406,750 sq km

Ecuador: 283,560 sq km

Guyana: 214,999 sq km

Uruguay: 176,220 sq km

Suriname: 163,270 sq km

Amazon Basin:
The Amazon Basin (Amazonia) is covered by the largest tropical rain forest in the world, and running through its heart is
the Amazon River and its more than 1,000 tributaries, seven of them more than 1,000 miles in length. Measurable rain falls on an
average of 200 days a year here, and total rainfall often approaches 100 inches per year.
The basin drains over 2,700,000 sq. miles, and covers about one-third of South America. Rising high in the Andes, the river's
network irrigates almost half of the continent, and in terms of volume of water discharged into an ocean... it's the largest in the
world.
Andes Mountains:
This toothy-edged mountain system, some 4,500 miles (7,240 km) in length, extends from the southern tip of South America all
the way to Panama.
It's the source of most major rivers on the continent, and its many ranges include dozens of peaks that reach over 20,000 ft; the
highest point being Aconcagua in Argentina, at 22,384 ft. (6,960m). It's also home to some of the planet's largest volcanoes, and in
the far south along the coast of Chile, large glaciers and ice sheets are commonplace.
Atacama Desert:
Sparsely populated and positioned high into the Andes of Chile, this somewhat small desert (or plateau) is a cold place, and one of
the few deserts on Earth that doesn't receive any rain. It's approximately 100 miles wide and 625 miles long. The landscape is
totally barren and covered with small borax lakes, lava flow remnants and saline deposits.

Brazilian Highlands:
This magnificent landscape of southeastern Brazil is 800 miles in length and contains varied mountain ranges, namely the Serra de
Mantiquiera, Serra do Paranapiataba, Serra Geral, and Serra do Mar. The estimated highest point is 7,368 ft (2,245m).
Brazilian Shield:
The shield is a geologic formation lying south of the Amazon. Hundreds of rivers and streams flow through this area on their way to
the Amazon These rivers contain a large number of migratory fish species.
Cape Horn:
The southernmost tip of South America, remains a maritime legend to this day, as sailing around this remote point and through its
violent stretch of chaotic water is one of the most challenging nautical routes on the planet.
Guina Highlands:
Over 1,000 miles in length, the Highlands stretch from southern Venezuela to the northern border of Brazil. It's a vast plateau,
one marked by deep gorges, tropical rain forests, numerous rivers and waterfalls. It's famed for the highest waterfall in the world
(Angel Falls) at 3,212 ft (979m) high. The highest point is Mt. Roraima on the borders of Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela at 9,219 ft
(2,810m).
Llanos:
This large and very fertile plain, located in eastern and central Colombia, and central and southern Venezuela, is drained by
the Orinoco River and its many tributaries. It's approximately 225,000 sq. miles (582,000 sq. km) in size.
Pampas:
Famed for its many cattle ranches, this large plain in the southern part of the continent (in central Argentina) extends for almost
1,000 miles (1,600 km), and covers 294,000 sq. miles (761,460 sq km).
Pantanal:
The Pantanal is the world's largest wetland of any kind. It lies mostly within southwestern Brazil, and covers an area estimated at
between 140,000 square kilometers (54,000 sq mi) and 195,000 square kilometers (75,000 sq mi). It contains an astonishing
collection of aquatic plants and a wide variety of of animal species.
Patagonia:
Located between the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean, and about 1,000 miles in length, Patagonia stretches south from the Rio Negro

River to Tierra del Fuego and the Strait of Magellan. It's mostly rugged, barren land, famed for its beauty and striking mountain
scenery.
Tierra Del Fuego:
Located at the southern tip of South America, the Tierra Del Fuego archipelago includes one large island (18,571 sq miles, 48,100
sq km) in size, and a series of smaller ones. It was reportedly named by the Portuguese adventurer, Ferdinand Magellan, the first
explorer to circumnavigate the globe. His chosen route through the Magellan Strait proved to be the fastest and safest connection
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for sea-going commerce and exploration.

AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA

Oceania, the planet's smallest continent, is without doubt one of the most diverse and fascinating areas on the planet. A large
percentage of geography experts now consider the long-established continent of Australia to be more accurately defined as
Australia/Oceania.
Collectively it then combines all of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, as well as the thousands of coral atolls and volcanic
islands of the South Pacific Ocean, including the Melanesia and Polynesia groups.

Oceania also includes Micronesia, a widely scattered group of islands that run along the northern and southern edges of the
Equator.
Note: All Australia/Oceania recognized countries are labeled in red on the map; dependencies and territories are labeled in black.

Continent Details: Note: All recognized countries of Oceania are shown in red on the map.

Namesake: The name "Oceania" (Ocanie) was coined in 1812 by geographer Conrad Malte-Brun. It is from a French word
derived from the Greek word (keans), or ocean.

Major Languages: Major languages include the Aboriginal Australian languages from the PamaNyungan and TransNew
Guinea families, and approximately forty Polynesian languages. Colonial languages include English in Australiaand New
Zealand, and in many other territories, while French is spoken in New Caledonia and French Polynesia. There are also mixtures
of colonial languages with indigenous languages, such as Tok Pisin, Bislama, Chavacano, Norfuk and Pitkern. Also, as in other parts
of planet, immigrants brought their own languages, such as Chinese, Greek and Italian.

Hawaii is politically a part of North America, but geographically not part of any continent.

Population: 35,670,000, 6th most populous continent.

Population Density: 4.2; without Australia's mainland, 16.1

Largest Countries (by size): Australia (7,686,850 sq km),Papua New Guinea (468,840), New Zealand (268,680 sq
km)

Largest Countries (by pop.): Australia (22,028,000), Papua New Guinea (5,172,033), New Zealand (4,108,037)

Smallest Countries (by size): Nauru (21 sq km), Tuvalu (26 sq km), Marshall Islands (73,600 sq km)

Smallest Countries (by pop.): Tuvalu (11,046), Nauru(12,329), Palau (19,409)

Continent Size: 8,112,000 sq km, 3,132,059 sq miles.

Note: While some others do, our Oceania size (shown above) does not factor in the Malay Archipelago, which includes Indonesia,
the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, East Malaysia and East Timor. Also, Hawaii is not included as it geographically belongs to no
continent.

Percent of Earth's Land: 5.3%

Highest Point: Mt. Wilheim, Papua New Guinea, 18,506 ft (5,642m) (see map)

Lowest Point: Lake Eyre, Australia (-52 ft) (-16m) (see map)

Geographic Center: unavailable

Horizontal Length: 5,889 miles (9,478 km) from Perth, Australia, east to Papeete, Tahiti: (see map)

Vertical Length: 3,910 miles (6.292 km) from Auckland, New Zealand northwest to Guam: (see map)
Note: Lengths and widths are point-to-point, straight-line measurements and will vary some using other map projections.

Oceania contains a wide variety of landforms, with most of the significant ones located in the countries of Australia,, New
Zealand and Papua New Guinea. And because most of the islands of Oceania are small in size (mere dots on the map), it's
impossible for us to show their individual landforms on a single and readable map.
Many of those small island are remnants of ancient volcanic activity, or coral atolls that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.
Few have rivers of any size, and for that matter lakes. So, here we show and describe Australia's recognized landforms, and for the

other countries, dependencies and territories, please access them individually on this map.

Australia Landforms (page 1)

Note: Australia is extremely dry, with about 35 percent of the country receiving very little rain (if any). Almost 20 percent of
available land is some form of desert.
AYERS ROCK (Uluru)
Considered the largest solitary rock on the planet, its red sandstone surfacesmoothed by high winds over time is revered as a
holy place and called Uluru by the aboriginal peoples It's 1,143 ft. (348 m) high.
CAPE YORK PENINSULA
Described as the world's "last wilderness," and as one of the "wildest unexplored wilderness area on the planet," Cape York is home
to jagged-tooth mountains, tropical rainforests, extensive mangrove forests, grasslands, swamps and fast moving rivers.
DARLING/MURRAY RIVER SYSTEM
The Darling River, 1,160 miles (1,879 km) in length, flows southwest from the edges of the Great Dividing Range into the Murray
River. The Murray rises in the Australian Alps and flows 1,200 miles (1,930 km) to the Spencer Gulf, directly west of Adelaide. It's

the longest river in Australia and is a vital source of irrigation for the country's major agricultural industries.

DARLING RANGE
This low mountain range runs through far southwestern Australia. Its highest point is Mt. Cooke at 1,910 Ft. (580 m).
FRASER ISLAND
Located along Australia's Coral Sea coastline, to the north of Brisbane (and not shown on this map), Fraser Island is Australia's
fourth largest island (after Tasmania, Melville Island and Kangaroo Island), and the largest sand island in the world. Created by the
action of wind over thousands of years, the island is 120 km long and about 15 km wide.
Australia Landforms (page 2)
GIBSON DESERT
Covered by small sand dunes and a few rocky hills, this 120,000 sq. mile desert is home to numerous Aboriginal reserves. Farming
and cattle raising activities are difficult here as rain seldom falls.
GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN
Also know as "Channel Country," it's one of the largest artesian groundwater basins in the world and a vital source of water for
Australian agriculture.
GREAT AUSTRALIAN BLIGHT
This spectacular
GREAT DIVIDING RANGE
Running along the eastern/southeastern edge of the country and extending on into Tasmania, these mountains and its varied ranges
separate the dry Australian interior from the coastal areas. The highest point is Mt. Kosciusko in the Australian Alps at 7,310 ft.
(2,228 m) high. The Blue Mountains World Heritage Area in New South Wales, about two hour's drive from Sydney, is one of the
most beautiful locations in the world and one of Australia's most visited spots.
GREAT SANDY DESERT
At 150,000 sq. miles in size this arid expanse of Western Australia, south of the Kimberley Plateau, features scattered scrub
vegetation and rocks. It has miles of red sand ridges (dunes) and very few people.

GREAT VICTORIA DESERT

Famous for its red sand dunes, indigenous wildlife and isolation, the Victoria Desert (250,000 sq. miles in size) extends for about
450 miles (750 km), and is mainly a barren area of red sand hills and ridges, dry salt lakes, with very little grassland
GREAT BARRIER REEF
This spectacular coral reef, about 1,250 miles (2,000 km) in length contains the world's largest deposit of coral. It's not one
continuous reef, but rather an irregular jigsaw puzzle of over 2,800 individual coral reefs and assorted coral cays. Famed worldwide
for its beauty and wildlife (over 1,500 species of fish alone), it became Australia's first World Heritage Area in 1981.
HAMERSLEY RANGE
A reddish-brown low mountain range located in Western Australia is the homeland of many Aboriginal peoples. This national park is
famed for its red rock gorges and waterfalls.
KIMBERLEY PLATEAU
The Kimberley, much of it still unexplored, is notorious for the dramatic red landscapes of jumbled rocks and gorges, and for the
very strong ocean tide that flows in (twice daily), causing dangerous river rapids and whirlpools. Dozens of islands and coral reefs
dot the rugged coastline, and access to this area of Australia is most difficult, as roads are few.
LAKE EYRE BASIN
Lake Eyre itself is over 50 ft.(16 m) below sea level and located in the driest part of Australia. Usually it holds little water, and now,
due to the severe drought conditions in the country it has none. Lake Eyre Basin is considered the world's largest internal drainage
system, covering about one-sixth of the country. Rivers here flow based on rainfall, and because of that rare commodity, isolated
water holes are vital for life.
MACDONNELL RANGE
Made famous by Ayers Rock and a favorite of campers and rock climbers, this series of rolling hills, mountain ridges and valleys is
popular because of consistently good weather and beautiful scenery. The highest point is Mt. Ziel at 5,023 ft. (1,5312 m).
NULLARBOR PLAIN
This sparsely populated slice of southwestern Australia is extremely dry with very little surface water and very few people, It can be
crossed by the using the Eyre Highway, named after the famed explorer Edward John Eyre, who was the first person to survive an

East-West crossing of Australia in the mid-1800s. Along the southern coastline on the Great Australian Bight, (Bight: a bend or
curve in the shoreline) the local terrain is unparalleled. Enormous stretches of pure white sand are found in the Bilbunya Dunes and
the Baxter Cliffs along the Bight are absolutely stunning.
SHARK BAY
Shark Bay is one of only 14 places on the planet that meets ALL four natural criteria for World Heritage listings. Those criterias
include outstanding examples of the earth's evolution, biological and ecological processes, incredible natural beauty and significant
natural habitats for animal and plant species. The bay has the largest area of seagrass species in one place, and supports a rich
aquatic life of dolphins, dugongs, sea snakes, turtles, whales, and of course sharks.
SIMPSON DESERT
At 56,000 sq. miles in size this desert of sand drifts and wind-blown sand dunes receives very little rain and summer heat can be
brutal. High temperatures in the desert often exceed 120 F, and even though humans are advised to be cautious here in summer,
the desert itself is far from lifeless. Tourists are commonplace in winter and many visit the strikingly beautiful landscapes of the
Queensland Simpson Desert National Park.
TANAMI DESERT
Similar to the Great Sandy Desert, it has large areas of red sand plains, scrub vegetation and a few scattered hills. It's mostly
uninhabited with some isolated mining and livestock raising.

ANTARCTICA
Antarctic Circle
The Antarctic (or Antarctica) Circle is one of the five major circles or parallels of latitude that mark maps of the Earth.
Shown on the image above with a dashed red line, this parallel of latitude sits at approximately 66.33 south of the Equator. It
marks the northern limit of the area within which, for one day or more each year, the sun does not set or rise.
The length of continuous day or night increases southward from the Antarctic Circle, mounting to six months at the South Pole.

Size: 13,209,000 sq km, 5,100,021 sq miles

(varies due to changing ice shelves)

Percent of Earth's Land: 8.9%

Status Antarctica, almost 98% solid ice, was finally considered a continent in 1840, and not just a group of isolated islands.
Today it has active territorial claims submitted by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United
Kingdom. (Many of these claims are not recognized by some countries and remain in a constant disputed status)
Capital City none
Climate Antarctica is the coldest and windiest spot on the planet. In fact, the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth
was recorded in Antarctica (-129.3F) and the mean winter temperatures range from -40 to -94F. Winds are commonly measured
at up to 200 miles per hour.

Current Weather at the South Pole.

Highest Point Vinson Massif at 16,066 ft. (4,897 m)(map)

Lowest Point Bentley Subglacial Trench, -2,555 m)

Latitude/Longitude 90 S, 0.00 E

Official Language none

Official Currency none

Population Officially none, but governmental research stations are populated with small groups of scientists at all times. In
addition, during the 2011/2012 season, nearly 417,000 tourists visited the continent.