HandyGeographySecondEd11:HandyWeatherAqua 1/27/09 6:48 AM Page 1 Tucci Rosenberg The world, its people, its countries, THE its history, the maps and more! ommandeer the family armchair and prepare for an Cincredibly cheap — yet oddly fulfilling — world tour with The Handy Geography Answer Book. You’ll learn the answers to more than 1,0 comon and HANDY intriguing questions about the natural features of the world and the ever-changing mark humans make on our planet. It provides answers to such questions as … • What time is it in Antarctica? • Why was computing longitude so difficult? • What are the seven wonders of the modern world? GEOGRAPHY • What is the effect of global warming and climate change on Earth? • Which place in South America is part of the European Union? • Why has Afghanistan been contested and invaded so many times? • What countries have the most Internet usage? • What was George Washington’s involvement with geography? ANSWER From common trivia questions — highest, tallest, deepest, hottest, shortest, longest, oldest, Praise for the first edition … newest, and, of course, most improved — to “Reader-friendly. Leads the geographically geography’s influence on language, religion, illiterate along to a better understanding of architecture, migration, and population, and to what happened where and why. A great the impact of terrain on the location of countries reference.” and cities, The Handy Geography Answer Bok —San Antonio Expres-News BOOK includes information on virtually every topic “Top 10 Basic Geography Book” related to geography. With up-to-date maps and —About.com country information, this book let’s you bring S E C O N D E D I T I O N the world home! ISBN 978-1-57859-215-9 9 0 0 0 0 Paul A. Tucci and Matthew T. Rosenberg Geography/Travel/History Yo u r S m a r t Re f e r e n c e ™ $21.95 US, $23.95 Canadian 9 7 8 1 5 7 8 5 9 2 1 5 9 978-1-57859-215-9 THE HANDY GEOGRAPHY ANSWER BOOK Handy Geography FM 2/2/09 12:21 PM Page i About the Authors Paul A. Tucci is chief operating officer and partner at iwerk, inc., an innovative software developer and IT ser- vices corporation based in Michigan. He is also a partner in the private equity investment banking firm Cranbrook Partners, and is on the board of directors of the Rizlov Foundation, an organization that grants scholarships to students of classical music. Previously, Paul held senior executive management positions at leading global academ- ic information publishing companies, managing global sales and marketing and product innovation for 18 years. Tucci has traveled to and done business in more than half of the countries of the world, and is also the author of the book Traveling Every- where: How to Survive a Global Business Trip. He has lectured throughout the world and written extensively on global information development issues. He has also guest- lectured in international management, marketing, and culture at such institutions as the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, New York University, and INSEAD in Fountainbleau, France. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Tucci received a B.A. in international politics, with a concentration in international devel- opment, foreign relations, and languages. Matthew Todd Rosenberg studied geography at the University of California at Davis and earned a master’s at California State University, Northridge. He is the author of the first edition of The Handy Geography Answer Book, and also pub- lished The Geography Bee Complete Preparation Handbook. He has worked as an adjunct professor, a newspaper columnist, a city planner, and as a disaster manager for the Red Cross. His work in disaster relief took him all across America, as well as Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. His contributions to the science of geogra- phy earned him the Excellence in Media Award from the National Council for Geo- graphic Education. Handy Geography FM 2/2/09 12:21 PM Page ii Also from Visible Ink Press The Handy Anatomy Answer Book The Handy Physics Answer Book by James Bobick and Naomi Balaban by P. Erik Gundersen ISBN: 978-1-57859-190-9 ISBN: 978-1-57859-058-2 The Handy Answer Book for Kids (and The Handy Politics Answer Book Parents) by Gina Misiroglu by Judy Galens and Nancy Pear ISBN: 978-1-57859-139-8 ISBN: 978-1-57859-110-7 The Handy Religion Answer Book The Handy Astronomy Answer Book by John Renard by Charles Liu ISBN: 978-1-57859-125-1 ISBN: 978-1-57859-193-0 The Handy Science Answer Book™, The Handy Biology Answer Book Centennial Edition by James Bobick, Naomi Balaban, by The Science and Technology Sandra Bobick and Laurel Roberts Department Carnegie Library of ISBN: 978-1-57859-150-3 Pittsburgh ISBN: 978-1-57859-140-4 The Handy Geology Answer Book by Patricia Barnes-Svarney and The Handy Sports Answer Book Thomas E Svarney by Kevin Hillstrom, Laurie Hillstrom ISBN: 978-1-57859-156-5 and Roger Matuz ISBN: 978-1-57859-075-9 The Handy History Answer Book, 2nd Edition The Handy Supreme Court Answer Book by Rebecca Nelson Ferguson by David L Hudson, Jr. ISBN: 978-1-57859-170-1 ISBN: 978-1-57859-196-1 The Handy Math Answer Book The Handy Weather Answer Book, by Patricia Barnes-Svarney and Second Edition Thomas E Svarney by Kevin S. Hile ISBN: 978-1-57859-171-8 ISBN: 978-1-57859-215-9 The Handy Ocean Answer Book by Patricia Barnes-Svarney and Thomas E Svarney ISBN: 978-1-57859-063-6 Visit us at www.visibleink.com Handy Geography FM 2/9/09 1:22 PM Page iii THE HANDY GEOGRAPHY ANSWER BOOK SECON D E DITION Paul A. Tucci Matthew T. Rosenberg Detroit Handy Geography FM 2/2/09 12:21 PM Page iv Copyright © 2009 by Visible Ink Press® THE This publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair HANDY competition, and other applicable laws. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permis- sion in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes GEOGRAPHY to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclu- sion in a magazine, newspaper, or website. ANSWER All rights to this publication will be vigorously defended. Visible Ink Press® 43311 Joy Rd., #414 BOOK Canton, MI 48187-2075 Visible Ink Press is a registered trademark of Visible Ink Press LLC. Most Visible Ink Press books are available at special quantity dis- counts when purchased in bulk by corporations, organizations, or groups. Customized printings, special imprints, messages, and excerpts can be produced to meet your needs. For more information, contact Special Markets Director, Visible Ink Press, www.visibleink.com, or 734-667-3211. Managing Editor: Kevin S. Hile Art Director: Mary Claire Krzewinski Typesetting: Marco Di Vita Proofreader: Amy Marcaccio Keyser ISBN 978-1-57859-215-9 Cover image of Peru by Paul Tucci. All other images from iStock.com. All images in this book that are not otherwise credited are also from iStock.com. Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Tucci, Paul A., 1962– The handy geography answer book / Paul A. Tucci and Matthew T. Rosenberg. — 2nd ed. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-57859-215-9 1. Geography—Miscellanea. I. Rosenberg, Matthew T. (Matthew Todd), 1973- II. Title. G131.R68 2009 910—dc22 2008052156 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Handy Geography FM 2/2/09 12:21 PM Page v Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii INTRODUCTION viii DEFINING THE CLIMATE … 61 WORLD … 1 Definitions … The Atmosphere … Ozone … Definitions and History … The Earth … Climactic Trends … Weather … Wind Continents and Islands … High, Low, Big, Small, and Wondrous … Human Civilization … People and Countries HAZARDS AND DISASTERS … 73 Volcanoes … Earthquakes … Tsunamis … MAPS … 19 Hurricanes … Floods … Tornadoes … History and Instruments … Latitude and Lightning … Other Hazards and Disasters Longitude … Reading and Using Maps … Modern Mapping TRANSPORTATION AND URBAN GEOGRAPHY … 91 THE PHYSICAL Cities and Suburbs … Urban Structures … ENVIRONMENT … 33 Air Transportation … Roads and Railways … The Earth’s Materials and Internal Sea Transportation Processes … Natural Resources … Landscapes and Ecosystems … Asteroids and Near Earth Objects POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY … 105 Colonies and Expansionism … The United WATER AND ICE … 43 Nations … NATO and the Cold War … The Oceans and Seas … Rivers and Lakes … World Today … Colonies and Expansionism Precipitation … Glaciers and Fjords … … The World Economy Controlling Water v Handy Geography FM 2/2/09 12:21 PM Page vi CULTURAL RUSSIA AND EASTERN GEOGRAPHY … 117 EUROPE … 201 Population … Language and Religion … Russia and the Former Soviet States … Dealing with Hazards … Cultures around Eastern Europe the World ASIA … 213 TIME, CALENDARS, AND China and Middle Asia … The Indian SEASONS … 127 Subcontinent … Japan and the Korean Time Zones … Daylight Savings Time … Peninsula … Southeast Asia … The Keeping Time … Calendars … The Seasons Philippines and Indonesia EXPLORATION … 139 MIDDLE EAST … 235 Europe and Asia … Africa … The New World The Land and History … Religion … … The Poles Conflicts and Nations … People, Countries, and Cities UNITED STATES OF AMERICA … 149 AFRICA … 249 Physical Features and Resources … The Physical Features and Resources … History States … Cities and Counties … People and … People, Countries and Cities Culture … History OCEANIA AND NORTH AND CENTRAL ANTARCTICA … 261 AMERICA … 167 Oceania … Australia … New Zealand … Greenland and the North Pole Region … Antarctica Canada … Mexico … Central America … The West Indies COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD 271 SOUTH AMERICA … 177 MAPS OF THE WORLD 368 Physical Features and Resources … History INDEX 385 … People, Countries, and Cities For a list of Internet websites and further resources, visit The Handy Geography WESTERN EUROPE … 189 Answer Book page at visibleink.com. Physical Features and Resources … vi History … People, Countries, and Cities Handy Geography FM 2/2/09 12:21 PM Page vii Acknowledgments I am grateful to Roger Jänecke, publisher of Visible Ink Press, for first approaching me and then inspiring me to write the second edition of this book. I would also like to thank our managing editor, Kevin Hile, for his expertise and attention to detail that made the finished book possible; Mathew Rosenberg, the author of the original first edition, for the enormous amount of work and research that went into it; Mary Claire Krzewinski, our designer, for capturing the spirit of the book in her designs; Marco Di Vita for typesetting; and Amy Marcaccio Keyzer, who did the final proofreading. My interest in international affairs could not have happened without the inspiration of a few of professors at the University of Michigan: Dr. A.F.K. Organski (political sci- ence), Dr. Ernest Young (history/Asian studies), and Dr. George Kish (geography). I owe a great debt to the man who hired me for my first position in international business and took a chance on a young kid who wanted to work with the people of the world: Larry Block. Hundreds of people helped introduce and educate me on the front lines of the international publishing world, including Edgar Castillo, Felix Chu, Janet D’Cotta, Jani Dipokusumo, Yoichiro Fudeyasu, Kazuo Hagita, Mark Holland, Dr. Yung Shi Lin, Mani, Mitsuo Nitta, Sue Orchard, Ravichandran, Sunil Sachdev, Tim Smartt, Jae One Son, Simon Tay, Lee Pit Teong, Kelvin Theseira, Sung Tinnie, Takashi Yamakawa, Shinobu Yamashita, Cai Yuniang, and Eve Zhang. Thank you and your organizations for giving me a chance, and for your kindness and patience while I learned. I would like to thank the staffs of various international organizations, who helped me to learn about the developing world and provided necessary research information to libraries throughout the developing world, including the U.S. Information Agency, U.S Agency for International Development, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Soros Foundation. I wish to also thank two notable graduate business school professors who gave me the opportunity to learn from them and to lecture in their classes on international marketing and management for so many years. They are both my sounding board and sanity check on theories and ideas in international management: Dr. Ann Coughlan (Northwestern University) and Dr. Linda Lim (University of Michigan). I also would like to thank Dr. Evelyn Katz, a great coach and friend who teaches me and inspires me to transform and break through to the next level. Special thanks to Dr. Yung Shi Lin, and all of the people at Jetwin, for the publishing of my first book. Thanks also to the thousands of people who work at the websites cited in this book, and who give a large part of their lives and passion in getting this information out to the world. Thanks to my friends and colleagues who read my writings over the years and encouraged me to continue. And, of course, I wish to thank my parents, sib- lings, wife, and daughter for their love and encouragement in writing this book. —Paul A. Tucci vii Handy Geography FM 2/2/09 12:21 PM Page viii Introduction My interest in geography began when I was a little boy, reading whatever I could of my family’s collection of National Geographic magazines. I still remember actual pic- tures and stories of far-away places, of distant lands and settlements and modern civi- lization, of colorful foods that had unimaginable flavors, of people wearing robes and silks, and so many eyes and smiles. I knew at this age that I would want to be a part of the world, and know the whole world. My geography professor emeritus at the University of Michigan, Dr. George Kish, a noted geographer and cartographer, inspired us with his stories in lectures on Mon- days and Wednesdays. I remember he told us what it was like to stand somewhere in Siberia and feel the temperature changes from the thermals on the ground rising up to his waist, creating a gradient of perhaps 30 degrees. I learned that geography was much more than just looking at a globe and naming names on a map. It is about the land, the people on that land, the delicate balance of nature, and our very interdepen- dence upon it, despite the miracles of technology and grocery stores. It’s about the effects of nature on places that we may never visit, the stories of human survival and rebuilding, and of renewal. From the earliest times, mankind has been fascinated with understanding the questions of geography. The Caves of Lascaux, in France, demonstrate the fascination with which our early ancestors—16,000 years ago—had for their surroundings. Their interaction with nature and reverence for where they were, and how they fit into this world we now inherit, is clearly drawn on stone walls. It is our nature to wonder about places, to try to understand how do we fit in to this great puzzle that we call Earth. When we begin with asking a question about the planet that we live on, we open up a little part of ourselves to that place. Somehow, it becomes less foreign to us. In my travels around the world, I am always amazed at the number of people who know so much about our country. They speak of New Orleans as if they have walked down Bourbon Street. According to a Roper Poll on Geographic Understanding, American kids ranked dead last in their knowledge of the rest of the world. If you know the people, places, and history of the world, you are more likely to promote peace with other lands. You see the differences as well as the plethora of sim- ilarities. Quite possibly, you find things about each place that are admirable. Or you see how your country or region compares to some other place and begin to work to solve common problems and inequities. World change begins with our geographic interest. I hope that this book stimu- lates your interest and knowledge, perhaps even makes you delve deeper into a partic- ular place, or set foot upon another land and grasp the hands of its people. —Paul A. Tucci viii Handy Geography MB/BM 2/2/09 12:23 PM Page 1 DEFINING THE WORLD DEFINITIONS AND HISTORY What does the word “geography” mean? The word geography is of Greek origin and can be divided into two parts, geo, mean- ing the Earth, and graphy, which refers to writing. So geography can be loosely trans- lated to “writing about the Earth.” Ancient geography was often descriptions of far away places, but modern geography has become much more than writing about the Earth. Contemporary geographers have a difficult time defining the discipline. Some of my favorite definitions include “the bridge between the human and the natural sci- ences,” “the mother of all sciences,” and “anything that can be mapped.” Who invented geography? The Greek philosopher Thales was one of the first to argue about the shape of the world in the sixth century B.C.E. And Chinese texts of the fifth century B.C.E. describe the provinces of China in great detail. However, the Greek scholar Eratosthenes is credited with the first use of the word geography in the third century B.C.E. He is also known as the “father of geography” for his geographical writing and accomplish- ments, including the measurement of the circumference of the Earth. What is geologic time? Geologic time is a time scale that divides the history of the planet Earth into eras, periods, and epochs from the birth of the planet to the present. The oldest era is the Precambrian, which began 4.6 billion years ago and ended about 570 million years ago. Next came the Paleozoic Era, which lasted from 570 to 245 million years ago, fol- lowed by the Mesozoic Era, from 245 to 66 million years ago. We’re now living in the 1