CONTINENTS

BY SIZE BY POPULATION (2012

2012 estimates)
estimates

1. Asia - (44,579,000 sq km) 1. Asia - (4,165,252,000)

2. Africa - (30,065,000 sq km) 2. Africa - (1,022,234,000)

000)

3. North America - (24,256,000 sq km) 3. Europe - (738,199,000)

4. South America - (17,819,000 sq km) 4. North America - (528,720,000)

5. Antarctica - (13,209,000 sq km) 5. South America - (387,489,000)

6. Europe - (9,938,000 sq km) 6. Australia/Oceania - (36,593,000)

7. Australia/Oceania - (8,112,000 sq km) 7. Antarctica - (0)

NUMBERS OF COUNTRIES

1- Africa - (54) 2- Europe - (47) 3- Asia - (44)

4- North America - (23) 5- Oceania - (14) 6- South America - (12)
7- Antarctica - (0)
 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 Αsia, 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 km² (225 mi²)

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

 ASIA DESERTS
Several significant deserts stretch across Asia and the Middle East. Here we highlight 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.

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 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).

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.

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

ASIA MOUNTAINS
Several significant mountain ranges stretch across Asia. Here we highlight 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 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 one-fifth 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.

MIDDLE-EAST ASIA

Anatolian Plateau: This generally barren and arid plateau of central Turkey averages about
500 meters in elevation. Farming and livestock raising (the major industries), are difficult
occupations here as extreme temperatures, both summer and winter are commonplace.
Regardless, scattered towns and villages cover the landscape.

An Nafud Desert: Part of the Arabian Desert, this desert of western Saudi Arabia is famous for
gigantic sand dunes, some reaching over 100 ft. high.

Ar Rub' Al Khali Desert: Known as the Empty Quarter, it's the largest (only sand) desert in the
world and famed for huge sand dunes that can extend for over 25 miles. A large part of the
Arabian Desert, it covers most of southern Saudi Arabia, and is almost moistureless. The Ad
Dahna' is the northern expanse that connects to the An Nafud Desert.
Arabian Desert: The Arabian Desert, one of the largest deserts on the planet, is a vast desert
wilderness stretching from Yemen to the Persian Gulf and from Oman to Jordan and Iraq. It
occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula, with an estimated area of 2,330,000 sq km (900,000 sq
mi).

Caucasus Mountains: Positioned between the Black and Caspian Seas, these mountains
dominate the landscape of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia where the Middle East begins.
Volcanic peaks here exceed 15,000 ft., with the highest point being Mt. Elbrus at 18,481 ft.
(5,633m).

Elburz Mountains: Extending for almost 620 miles along Iran's northern border with the
Caspian Sea, these jagged mountains average over 9,000 ft, with the highest point being Mt.
Damavand, a dormant volcano, at 18,602 ft. (5,670m).

Hindu Kush: These dramatic mountains form a natural border between Afghanistan and
Pakistan, with many snow-capped peaks reaching over 22,000 ft. The highest point is Tirich
Mir at 25,282 ft. (7,706m).

Pamir: This region and its namesake mountains stretch across much of Tajikistan and parts of
Afghanistan, China and Pakistan, and similar to the Hindu Kush, numerous peaks exceed
22,000 ft, with the highest point being Pik Samani at 24,590 ft. (7,495m).

Taurus Mountains: This rugged chain extends across southern Turkey to its borders with Iraq
and Iran. The highest point (Mt. Ararat) is located in the Eastern Taurus range. This extinct
volcano is 16,583 ft. (5,137m) high. It is felt by biblical historians that Noah's Ark landed here.
The Koroglu and Ponic ranges stretch along the Black Sea coast of northern Turkey.

Tien Shan: Stretching almost 1,500 miles across Kyrgyzstan and well into China, this multiple
range of mountains (also known as Tian) commonly exceed 19,000 ft., with the highest point
being Pik Pobeda at 24,407 ft. (7,439m).

Zagros Mountains: This region and its namesake mountains stretch across much of Tajikistan
and parts of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan, and similar to the Hindu Kush, numerous peaks
exceed 22,000 ft, with the highest point being Pik Samani at 24,590 ft. (7,495m).

Euphrates: From the Caucasus Mtns of Armenia, it flows southwesterly across east-central
Turkey, then generally southeast through Syria and Iraq, ending in the waters of the Persian
Gulf. It joins with the Tigris in southern Iraq, and from that junction continues on as the Shatt al
Arab. Overall it's (2,235 miles) (3,596 km) in length, and is certainly the longest river in the
Middle East. Historically important in ancient history, the once great city of Babylon stood on
its banks.

Indus: It begins in the high mountains of Tibet (southwestern China), flowing northwest
through the Jammu & Kashmir region of India and Pakistan, then generally south through
Pakistan, ending in the Arabian Sea. The Indus, through a series of dams and canals, provides
much of the irrigation and power for central Pakistan. It's (1,800 miles) (2,896 km) in length.

Tigris: Rising in the mountains of southern Turkey, the Tigris flows southeast through Iraq,
where in the southern part of that country it merges with the Euphrates to become the Shatt al
Arab, which then flows to the Persian Gulf. The river has numerous small tributaries running
from its eastern bank, and is (1,180 miles) (1,899 km) in length.

AFRICA

 Namesake: The name Africa came into Western use through the Romans, who used the
name Africa terra "land of the Afri" for the northern part of the continent. Afri may possibly
refer to a tribe that inhabited North Africa.

 Major Languages: By most estimates, well over a thousand languages are spoken in Africa.
Most are of African origin, though some are of European or Asian origin. Africa is the most
multilingual continent in the world, and it is not rare for individuals to fluently speak not
only multiple African languages, but one or more European ones as well.

 Population: 1,032,532,974 (2011 estimate), Africa is the second most populous continent,
after Asia.

 Population Density: 30.5 per sq km (80 per sq mi)

Largest African Countries By Populations: (2012 UN estimates)

 Nigeria: 166,629,000
 Ethiopia: 86,539,000
 Egypt: 83,958,000
 Congo, DRC
 South Africa
 Tanzania
 Sudan
 Kenya
 Algeria
 Uganda
 Morocco
 Ghana
 Mozambique
 Cote d'Ivoire
 Cameroon
 Angola

Atlas Mountains: This mountain system

runs from southwestern Morocco along
the Mediterranean coastline to the eastern edge of Tunisia. Several smaller ranges are
included, namely the High Atlas, Middle Atlas and Maritime Atlas. The highest peak is Mt.
Toubkal in western Morocco at 13,671 ft. (4,167 m).

Congo River Basin: The Congo River Basin of central Africa dominates the landscape of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and much of neighboring Congo. In addition, it stretches into
Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Zambia. The fertile basin is about
1,400,000 sq. miles (3,600,000 sq. km) in size and contains almost 20% of the world's rain
forest. The Congo River is the second longest river in Africa, and it's network of rivers,
tributaries and streams help link the people and cities of the interior.

Ethiopian Highlands: The Ethiopian Highlands are a rugged mass of mountains in Ethiopia,
Eritrea (which is sometimes referred to as the Eritrean Highlands), and northern Somalia in
the Horn of Africa. The Ethiopian Highlands form the largest continuous area of its altitude in
the whole continent, with little of its surface falling below 1500 m (4,921 ft), while the summits
reach heights of up to 4550 m (14,928 ft). It is sometimes called the Roof of Africa for its height
and large area.

Great Rift Valley: A dramatic depression on the earth's surface, approximately 4,000 miles
(6,400 km) in length, extends from the Red Sea area near Jordan in the Middle East, south to
the African country of Mozambique. In essence, it's a series of geological faults caused by huge
volcanic eruptions centuries back, that subsequently created what we now call the Ethiopian
Highlands, and a series of perpendicular cliffs, mountain ridges, rugged valleys and very deep
lakes along it's entire length. Many of Africa's highest mountains front the Rift Valley, including
Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya and Mount Margherita.

Hoggar (Ahaggar) Mountains: The Hoggar Mountains, also known as the Ahaggar, are a
highland region in central Sahara, or southern Algeria, along the Tropic of Cancer. They are
located about 1,500 km (900 mi) south of the capital, Algiers and just west of Tamanghasset.
The region is largely rocky desert with an average altitude of more than 900 metres (2,953
feet) above sea level. The highest peak is at 3,003 meters (Mount Tahat).

Kalahari Desert: It's about 100,000 sq. miles (259,000 sq. km) in size and covers much of
Botswana, the southwestern region of South Africa and all of western Namibia. The desert
plateau is criss-crossed by dry rivers beds and dense scrub. A few small mountain ranges are
situated here including the Karas and the Huns. Large herds of wildlife are found in the
Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, located in South Africa near its border with Namibia.

Namib Desert: The Namib is a coastal desert in southern Africa that stretches for more than
2,000 km (1,200 mi) along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, extending
southward from the Carunjamba River in Angola, through Namibia and to the Olifants River in
Western Cape, South Africa. From the Atlantic coast eastward, the Namib gradually ascends in
elevation, reaching up to 200 km (120 mi) inland to the foot of the Great Escarpment.

Annual precipitation ranges from 2 mm (0.079 in) in the most arid regions to 200 mm (7.9 in)
at the escarpment, making the Namib the only true desert in southern Africa. The Namib is also
the oldest desert in the world and its geology consists of sand seas near the coast, while gravel
plains and scattered mountain outcrops occur further inland.

The desert's sand dunes, some of which are 300 m (980 ft) high and span 32 km (20 mi) long,
are the second largest in the world after the Badain Jaran Desert dunes in China

Nile River System: The longest river in the world (flows north), rising from the highlands of
southeastern Africa and running about 4,160 miles (6,693 km) in length, to then drain in the
Mediterranean Sea. In simple terms it's a series of dams, rapids, streams, swamps, tributaries
and waterfalls. Numerous (major) rivers comprise the overall system, including the Albert Nile,
Blue Nile, Victoria Nile and White Nile.
Sahel: The Sahel is a wide stretch of land running completely across north-central Africa, just
on the southern edges of the ever-expanding Sahara Desert. This border region is the transition
zone between the dry areas of the north and the tropical areas of the south. It receives very
little rain (six - eight inches a year) and most of the vegetation is a savanna growth of sparse
grasses and shrubs.

Sahara Desert: 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-strew 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 water's of the Nile help fertilize smaller parts
of the landscape.

NORTH AMERICA

 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)

North America Country Populations: (23 countries - 2010 estimates)

 United States: 309,975,000  Jamaica
 Mexico: 108,396,211  Trinidad & Tobago
 Canada: 34,207,000  Bahamas
 Guatemala  Belize
 Cuba  Barbados
 Dominican Republic  Saint Lucia
 Haiti  St. Vincent & the Grenadines
 Honduras  Grenada
 El Salvador  Antigua & Barbuda
 Nicaragua  Dominica
 Costa Rica  Saint Kitts & Nevis
 Panama

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.

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

Hundreds of rivers and their tributaries slice across North America. Here we highlight the major
ones, and offer a brief description.

Brazos: This Texas River begins in the northern part of the state in Stonewall County, and
flows southeast into Brazoria County and the Gulf of Mexico. It's (840 miles) (1,351 km) in
length.

Churchill: This River of central Canada rises in northwestern Saskatchewan, then flows east
into Manitoba, and on into Hudson Bay. It passes through numerous lakes and is known for the
rapids along its path. It's (1,000 miles) (1,609 km) in length.

Colorado: Beginning in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado, it moves southwest, ending
in the Gulf of California. It's (1,450 miles) (2,333 km) in length and over the centuries formed
numerous canyons along its winding path. The most famous of these is the Grand Canyon in
northern Arizona. The river has more than 30 electric power plants along its run, as well as
dozens of dams and reservoirs.

Columbia: This wide, fast-flowing river begins in the Canadian Rockies of southeast British
Columbia, Canada, flowing south through the State of Washington, then forming the natural
border between Washington and Oregon. It ends in the Pacific Ocean and is (1,152 miles)
(1,857 km) in length. Hydroelectric power development in the river basin brought inexpensive
electricity to the Pacific Northwest, but it severely affected salmon spawning and local fish
migration.

Fraser: This river of British Columbia, Canada, begins in the Canadian Rockies near
Yellowhead Pass, then flows in a variety of directions (generally south), finally turning west to
empty into the Strait of Georgia, just south of Vancouver. It's (850 miles) (1,368 km) in length.

Mackenzie: It's the longest river in Canada and dissects the Northwest Territories. It flows
generally northwest into Mackenzie Bay and the Beaufort Sea. This historic river was
discovered by Sir Alexander MacKenzie, and along its path are thick, green forests and dozens
of major lakes. It's (1,200 miles) (1,800 km) in length. If then combined with its tributaries -
the Slave, Peace and Finlay rivers - it extends to (2,635 miles) (4,240 km), and becomes the
second longest river in North America, second only to the Mississippi/Missouri river system
combination at (3,877 miles) (6,236 km) in length.
Mississippi: 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.

Missouri: It begins in southern Montana in the Rocky Mountains, first flowing north then
generally southeast across the heart of the United States, ending at the Mississippi River, just to
the north of St. Louis, Missouri. It is the longest river in the United States (2,500 miles) (4,023
km).

Ohio: Formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, the Ohio flows generally southwest. It forms the natural borders of Ohio and
West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky, as well as parts of the borders of Indiana, Illinois and
Kentucky. It empties into the Mississippi River at the Illinois border and is (975 miles) (1,569
km) long.

Rio Grande: It is one of the longest rivers in North America at (1,885 miles) (3,034 km). It
begins in the San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado, then flows south through New Mexico.
It forms the natural border between Texas and the country of Mexico as it flows southeast to
the Gulf of Mexico. In Mexico it is known as Rio Bravo del Norte. Used for drinking water by
both countries, the river is becoming more polluted as population centers that dot the river
grow in size, and then dump sewage and pesticides into the water.

St. Lawrence: This river flows northeast out of Lake Ontario and on into the Gulf of St.
Lawrence. It's (760 miles) (1,225 km) in length and permits the passage of deep-water ships
between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. It includes a series of man-made canals, locks
and dams, and is considered one of the most vital shipping routes on the planet.

Yukon: It begins in the southwestern edge of the Yukon Territory of Canada, and then flows
northwest across the border into Alaska. This massive river continues southwest across central
Alaska, ending at the Bering Sea. Even at a length of (1,265 miles) (2.035 km), most of it is
navigable, however, it remains frozen from October through mid-June.

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 northernmost
reaches of Canada's British Columbia. Major mountain ranges include...

 Absaroka  Laramie  Sangre de Cristo

 Bear River  Lemhi  Sawatch
 Beaverhead  Lewis  Shoshone
 Big Belt  Lost River  Steens
 Big Horn  Medicine Bow  Stillwater
 Bitterroots  Monashee  Swan
 Canadian  Owyhee  Tetons
 Clearwater  Purcell  Unita
 Columbia  Sacramento  Wallowa
 Front  Salmon River  Wasatch
 Guadalupe  San Andres  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

 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)

Largest Countries: (by population - 2008 est)

 Brazil: 193,891,867
 Colombia: 45,656,990
 Argentina: 40,085,130
 Peru
 Venezuela
 Chile
 Ecuador
 Bolivia
 Paraguay
 Uruguay
 Guyana
 Suriname

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.

ANTARCTICA

 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 (-129.3ºF) and the mean
winter temperatures range from -40º to -94ºF. 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)

 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 2009/2010 season, nearly 37,000
tourists visited the continent.

EUROPE

 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  Netherlands
 France: 65,102,719  Portugal
 United Kingdom: 62,698,362  Greece
 Italy  Belgium
 Spain  Czech Republic
 Ukraine  Belarus
 Poland  Sweden
 Romania  Belarus
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
ranges run 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. Elbrus at 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)

AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA

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

 Major Languages: Major languages include the Aboriginal Australian languages from the
Pama–Nyungan and Trans–New Guinea families, and approximately forty Polynesian
languages. Colonial languages include English in Australia and 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)

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.

Many of those small islands 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.

Ayers Rock (Uluru): Considered the largest solitary rock on the planet, its red sandstone
surface smoothed 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.

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 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 120º 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.

Some Important Mountain Ranges of the World

1- The Alps are the largest mountain system in Europe. They cover parts of south-eastern
France and northern Italy, most of Switzerland, part of southern Germany, and some of
Austria and Yugoslavia.
 Mont Blanc, in the Pennine Alps, is the highest mountain in all the Alps. It towers
15,782 feet (4,810 m.) higher than the sea.

2- The Andes Mountains are the longest mountain chain in the world. They stretch along
the entire west coast of South America from Cape Horn to Panama, a distance of 4,500
miles. Only the Himalaya Mountains and their adjacent ranges such as the Hindu Kush are
higher than the Andes range. Many Andean peaks rise over 20,000 feet (6,096 m.). It is
about 500 miles across the widest part of the range. In Spanish, they are called Cordillera de
los Andes, which means Andes Mountain Range.
 Aconcagua (22,841 feet; 6,962 m.), the highest peak in the Americas, and one
of Summits stands in Argentina, but is only about 65 miles from Santiago, Chile.

3- The Himalaya Range is the highest mountain system in the world. The name "Himalaya"
comes from the Sanskrit language and means "the House of Snow," or "the Snowy Range." It
consists of several parallel ranges. The mountains extend in a 1,500 mile curve across
southern Asia from the Pamirs, west of the great bend of the Indus River, eastward to the
great bend of the Brahmaputra River. They form a barrier which separates northern India
from the plateau of Tibet. Parts of the range are as much as 200 miles wide.
 The Himalayas rise in steps from the plains of northern India, which have an elevation
of about 1,000 feet (305 m.) above sea level.
 Mount Everest (29,035 feet; 8,848 m.), which lies between Tibet and the kingdom of
Nepal, is the highest mountain in the world.

4- The Rockies are a well-named group of jagged, snow-capped peaks which run through the
western part of North America. This chain of mountains extends over 3,000 miles and is
almost 1,000 miles wide in some places. They begin in Northern New Mexico and extend as
far as northern Alaska. From New Mexico, the mountain range stretches through Colorado,
Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
 The highest point in the Rockies is Mount Elbert in Colorado at 14,440 feet (4,401 m.).

5- The Appalachians are the chief mountain system of eastern North America, and the
oldest mountains in the United States. They stretch southwestward for about 1,500 miles
from Quebec in Canada to central Alabama. The mountains form the eastern continental
divide between the rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean and those that drain into the
Gulf of Mexico.
  The highest peak of the entire system, Mount Mitchell in North Carolina (6,684 feet;
2,037 m.).

6- The Rwenzori (formerly spelled Ruwenzori) is a spectacular mountain range located in

Africa on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The range is not
volcanic but consists of crystalline rock that moved upward from the earth's crust.
 Ancient people called the range "the Mountains of the Moon." Ptolemy, the Alexandrian
geographer, first used this name on a map. The mountains were thought to be the
source of the Nile River. Indeed, melting snows from the range do feed some of the
farthest Nile tributaries.
 Margherita Peak at 16,763 feet (5,109 m.) the highest point in the range.

7- The Pyrenees is a chain of mountains that forms a natural barrier between France and
Spain. They extend from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea, a distance of about
270 miles.
 The highest point is Pico de Aneto at 11,168 ft (3,404 m.).

8- The Alborz (or Elburz) is a range of mountains in northern Iran. The range is almost 600
miles long, and varies in width from about 19 to 81 miles, and is located south of the
Caspian Sea.
 The highest mountain in the range located in northern Iran is Mount Damavand at
18,406 ft. (5,610 m.).

9- The Atlas Mountains are a range extending 1,500 miles across north-western Africa. They
run from Cape Guir on the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Bon on the Mediterranean Sea. The range
crosses part of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. These mountains were named after Atlas,
the Greek Titan.
 The highest peaks include Jbel Toubkal at 13,671 feet (4,167 m.).

10- The Ural Mountains are probably the richest mountain range of their size in the
world. These mountains are remarkable in the variety and amount of mineral wealth
which they contain. Salt, silver and gold have been mined here since the 1500s. By the
1800s, the Ural region was famous for its gems and semiprecioius stones, which include
emerald, beryl, amethyst, topaz and sapphire. Today, mining activities produce coal, iron,
copper, gold, platinum, silver, nickel, aluminum, manganese, lead, zinc, magnesium,
chromium, potash, salt, building stone, talc, diamonds, and soapstone. Oil is found west of
the Ural area The Ural Mountains extend for 1,500 miles in a north-south direction, from
the Arctic Ocean to near the Aral Sea. Old map makers used this range to mark the
continental boundary between Europe and Asia. Many maps continue to show the Urals
as the natural division of the two continents, although not all geographers accept the
mountains as the boundary mark.
 The highest peak of the Ural Range is Mount Narodnaya at 6,214 feet (1,894 m.).

11- The Sierra Nevada is a huge uplifted and tilted granite mountain range which extends
north and south for 400 miles in eastern California. These mountains are about 70 miles
wide. They cover 31,000 square miles between the Great Basin and the Central Valley of
California.
  This range consists mostly of fault-block mountains. Erosion by glaciers has exposed the
granite and formed the light-colored mountains and cliffs that make up the range.
 Its highest point is Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet (4,421 m.).

12- The Cascades are a chain of mountains that extend from northern California through
western Oregon and Washington State, into southern British Columbia. The
mountains are made up of lava and volcanic materials. Many of the peaks are extinct
volcanoes, although Lassen Peak and Mount St. Helens are the only active volcanoes in the
United States outside of Alaska and Hawaii.
 Mount Rainier (14,411 ft; 4,392 m.) in Washington and Mount Shasta (14,179 ft; 4,322
m.) in northern California, are the highest peaks in the range.

13- The Alaska Range is the largest mountain chain in Alaska. It curves across south
central Alaska for 400 miles, from the Alaska Peninsula to the Yukon Territory. The
mountains trap a great deal of moisture moving northwards from the Gulf of Alaska, thus
producing tremendous amounts of rain and heavy snowfall. This great amount of
precipitation gives rise to many large glaciers, including the Canwell, Castner, Black Rapids,
Susitna, Yanert, Muldrow, Eldridge, Ruth, Tokositna, and Kahiltna Glaciers.

 Its highest peak, Mount McKinley (Denali), is the highest point in North America at
20,320 ft (6,194 m.).

14- The Great Dividing Range of Australia is so callled because it forms a watershed. Rivers
on the east side flow from the highlands toward the Pacific Ocean; on the west side they
flow toward the central lowlands. In southern New South Wales and Eastern Victoria are
the Australian Alps, the continent's tallest mountains.
 Mount Kosciusko, Australia's highest peak rises to a height of 7,316 feet (2,230 m.).

15- The Zagros Mountain range stretches south and west from the borders of Turkey and
Russia to the Persian Gulf, and is Iran's largest mountain range (but not the highest
which are The Alborz), rising in the western half of the country and along the northern
border.
 The tallest mountain is Zard-Kuh at an elevation of 14,922 ft. (4,548 m.).

16- The Karakoram is a large mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan,
India and China, located in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan), Ladakh (India), and
Xinjiang (China). It is actually the northwestern extension of the Himalaya.
 K2 (Mount Godwin Austen), the second highest peak in the world (8,611 m/28,251
ft),

17- The Hindu Kush is a chain of mountains in Central Asia extending to the west of the
Himalayas. They are part of the boundary between eastern Afghanistan and north-
western Pakistan.
 The highest peak in the range and the highest mountain outside of the Himalaya and
Karakoram ranges is Turch Mir at 25,289 feet(7,708 m.), located in Pakistan

18- The Brooks Range in northern Alaska is the northern-most section of the Rocky
Mountains and the highest mountain range in the Arctic Circle. This range (named for USGS
 geologist Alfred Hulse Brooks) runs east to west across the state about 200 miles south of
the Arctic Ocean.
 Mount Chamberlin at 9,020 ft (2,749 m.), is the highest peak in the range.

Major Straits of the world

Name Joins Separate (Location)

Malacca Strait Andaman Sea & South China Sea Indonesia - Malaysia
Palk Strait Palk Bay (Gulf Of Mannar) & Bay Of India-Sri Lanka
Bengal
Sunda Strait Java Sea & Indian Ocean Indonesia
Cook Strait South Pacific Ocean New Zealand (N & S Islands)
Mozambique Strait Indian Ocean Mozambique - Malagassy
Taurus Strait Arafura Sea & Gulf Of Papua Papua New Guinea - Australia
Bass Strait Tasman Sea & South Sea Australia
Bering Strait Bering Sea & Chuksi Sea Alaska-Russia
Davis Strait Baffin Bay & Atlantic Ocean Greenland-Canada
Denmark Strait North Atlantic And Arctic Ocean Greenland-Iceland
Dover Strait English Channel & North Sea England-France
Florida Strait Gulf Of Mexico And Atlantic Ocean USA-Cuba
Hormuz Strait Gulf Of Persia & Gulf Of Oman Oman-Iran
Hudson Strait Gulf Of Hudson & Atlantic Ocean Canada
Gibraltar Strait Mediterranean Sea & Atlantic Ocean Spain-Morocco
Magellan Strait Pacific And South Atlantic Ocean Chile
Yucatan Strait Gulf Of Mexico And Carribbean Sea Mexico-Cuba
Makkassar Strait Java Sea & Celebeze Sea Indonesia
Tsungaru Strait Japan Sea And Pacific Ocean Japan (Hokkaido-Honshu Island)
Tatar Strait Japan Sea & Okhotsk Sea Russia (E Russia-Sakhalin Island)
Mesina Strait Mediterranean Sea Italy-Sicily
Otranto Strait Adriatic Sea & Ionian Sea Italy-Albania
Bab-El-Mandeb Red Sea & Gulf Of Aden Yemen-Djibouti
Strait
Bonne-Fasio Strait Mediterranean Sea Corsika-Sardinia
Bosporous Strait Black Sea And Marmara Sea Turkey (Separating Asian Part Of
Turkey From Its European Part)
Dardenleez Strait Marmara Sea And Agean Sea Turkey
North Channel Irish Sea & Atlantic Ocean Ireland-England
Suez Canal Mediterranean And Red Sea Runs Through Egypt
Kiel Canal North Sea And Baltic Sea Runs Through Germany
Panama Canal Pacific And Atlantic Oceans Runs Through Republic Of Panama
English Channel North Sea And Atlantic Oceans England And France
St. George's Channel Irish Sea And Atlantic Ocean (Celtic Sea) Ireland And Wales
Ten Degree Channel Andaman Islands And Nicobar
---
Islands

Straits in Detail
Malacca Strait: Strait of
Malacca, waterway
connecting the Andaman Sea
(Indian Ocean) and the
South China Sea (Pacific
Ocean). It runs between the
Indonesian island of Sumatra
to the west and peninsular
(West) Malaysia and
extreme southern Thailand
to the east. The strait
derived its name from the
trading port of Melaka
(formerly Malacca)—which
was of importance in the
16th and 17th centuries—on
the Malay coast.

Palk Strait: It is bounded on the south by

Pamban Island (India), Adam’s (Rama’s)
Bridge (a chain of shoals), the Gulf of Mannar,
and Mannar Island (Sri Lanka). The
southwestern portion of the strait is also called
Palk Bay. It receives several rivers, including
the Vaigai (India), and it contains many islands
on the Sri Lankan side. The port of Jaffna, the
commercial centre for northern Sri Lanka, lies
on the strait. The shoals and numerous islands
long have limited transit through the strait to
smaller vessels. In addition, periods of unrest
in northern Sri Lanka have disrupted shipping
across the strait between Sri Lanka and Tamil
Nadu state in India.
 Sunda Strait: Sunda Strait,
Indonesian Selat Sunda,
Sunda channel,
between the islands of Java (east)
and Sumatra that links the Java Sea
(Pacific Ocean) with the Indian
Ocean (south). There are several
volcanic islands within the strait,
the most famous of which is
Krakatoa,The strait was the scene
of an encounter between Allied and
Japanese forces in March 1942. The
Sunda
da Strait is an important
passage connecting the Indian
Ocean with eastern Asia.

Cook Strait: Cook Strait, strait separating the North

and South islands of New Zealand, extending
northwest to southeast from the Tasman Sea to the
south Pacific Ocean. Both shores are lined with steep
cliffs, and that of the South Island is deeply embayed.
Treacherous currents and fierce storms present
serious hazards to navigation, and travel from
Wellington (North Island) to Blenheim (South
Island) is chiefly by rail ferry and air.
Communications and electric-power power cables follow
the strait’s floor.

Mozambique Strait: Mozambique

Channel, Portuguese Canal De
Moçambique, channel of the western
Indian Ocean, threading between the
island nation of Madagascar on the
east
st and Mozambique on the African
mainland (west).The Comoro
Archipelago marks the northern
entrance, and the islands of Bassas da
India and Europa lie in the south. An
important route for shipping in
eastern Africa, it receives all major
Madagascar rivers and has the ports
of Mahajanga (Majunga) and Toliary
(Tuléar) on the same coast. Along the
opposite coast are the mouth of the
Zambezi River and the ports of
Maputo (formerly Lourenço
Marques), Moçambique, and Beira. The Mozambique Current passes through the strait.

Torres Strait: Torres Strait, passage

between the Coral Sea, on the east, and the
Arafura Sea, in the western Pacific Ocean. To
the north lies New Guinea and to the south
Cape York Peninsula (Queensland, Australia)
and has many reefs and shoals dangerous to
navigation, and its larger islands are
inhabited. Discovered (1606) by the Spanish
mariner Luis Vaez de Torres, its existence
was kept secret until 1764. The second
European to sail the strait (1774) was Capt.
James Cook. The Australia–Papua New
Guinea boundary is about 3 mi from the New
Guinea shore.

Bass Strait: Bass Strait, channel

separating Victoria, Australia, from the
island of Tasmania on the south. King
Island and the Indian Ocean lie at its
western extremity, and the Furneaux
Group is at its eastern end. Banks Strait
is the southeastern opening to the
Tasman Sea. Another small group, the
Hunter Islands, is located off the
northwestern tip of Tasmania. The strait
was named in 1798 by the English
navigator Matthew Flinders for the
surgeon-explorer George Bass.

Bering Strait: Bering Strait, Russian Proliv

Beringa, strait linking the Arctic Ocean with the
Bering Sea and separating the continents of Asia
and North America at their closest point. There are
numerous islands in the strait, including the two
Diomede Islands (about 6 square miles [16 square
km]), and to the south of the strait lies St.
Lawrence Island (about 1,000 square miles [2,600
square km]). The U.S.–Russian boundary extends
through the strait.
 Davis Strait: Davis Strait,
bay of the northern
Atlantic Ocean, lying
between southeastern
Baffin Island (Canada) and
southwestern Greenland.
The strait separates the
depths of Baffin Bay
(north) from those of the
Labrador Sea (south) and
forms part of the
Northwest Passage, a route
through the Canadian
Arctic Archipelago linking
the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. Along the shore of
Greenland, the West Greenland Current carries relatively warm water northward, while the
cold Labrador Current transports masses of ice southward along Baffin Island’s eastern shore
into the Labrador Sea and the Atlantic.

Denmark Strait: Denmark Strait, channel partially

within the Arctic Circle, lying between Greenland
(west) and Iceland (east). The Greenland Sea to the
open waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. The cold
East Greenland Current flows southward along the
west side of the strait and carries icebergs, which
originate in the Arctic Ocean and on the Greenland
ice cap; a branch of the warmer Irminger Current
flows northward near the Iceland coast.

Strait of Dover: Strait of Dover, French Pas de

Calais, Latin Gallicum Fretum, narrow water
passage separating England (northwest) from
France (southeast) and connecting the English
Channel (southwest) with the North Sea
(northeast).Until the comparatively recent geologic
past (c. 5000 bce), the strait was an exposed river
valley, thus making England an extension of the
European continent. Because of the prevailing
winds, the main flow of water through the strait is
from the southwest, but a persistent northeast wind
can reverse the current. The white cliffs on the
British side, composed
osed of soft chalk, are receding because of erosion.'
erosion.

Florida Strait: Straits of

Florida, passage connecting
the Gulf of Mexico with the
Atlantic Ocean. It extends
between the Florida Keys,
U.S., on the north and Cuba
and The Bahamas on the
south and southeast. The
straits mark the area where
the Florida Current, the
initial part of the Gulf
Stream, flows eastward out
of the Gulf of Mexico with a
mean surface velocity of 4
to 6 miles (6.5 to 9.5 km)
per hour. The Spanish
explorer Juan Ponce de León first recorded sailing through the straits in 1513.

Hormuz Strait: Strait of Hormuz, also called Strait

Of Ormuz, channel linking the Persian Gulf (west)
with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea
(southeast). It contains the islands of Qeshm
(Qishm), Hormuz, and Hengām (Henjām) and is of
great strategic and economic importance,
especially as oil tankers collecting from various
vario
ports on the Persian Gulf must pass through the
strait.

Hudson Strait: Hudson Strait, arm of the

Atlantic Ocean between Baffin Island
(Nunavut) and northern Quebec, Canada,
linking Hudson Bay and Foxe Basin with the
Labrador Sea. Salisbury and Nottingham
islands are at its entrance from the Foxe
Channel (northwest) and Hudson Bay
(southwest), and Resolution and Edgell
islands are at its eastern entrance from the
Labrador Sea.
 Strait of Gibraltar: Strait of Gibraltar,
Latin Fretum Herculeum, channel
connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the
Atlantic Ocean, lying between
southernmost Spain and north-western
most Africa. The Pillars of Heracles—
which have been identified as the Rock of
Gibraltar to the north and one of two peaks
to the south: Mount Hacho (held by Spain),
near the city of Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in
Morocco; or Jebel Moussa (Musa), in
Morocco.

Strait of Magellan: Strait of Magellan, Spanish

Estrecho de Magallanes, channel linking the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, between the mainland
tip of South America and Tierra del Fuego Island.
Lying entirely within Chilean territorial waters,
except for its easternmost extremity touched by
Argentina,Atlantic between Cape Vírgenes and
Cape Espíritu Santo, proceeds southwestward,
and curves to the northwest at Froward Cape on
the southern tip of Brunswick Peninsula to reach
the Pacific Ocean after passing Cape Pillar on
Desolación Island. The strait’s major port is Punta
Arenas, on the Brunswick Peninsula; the port is a
shipping point for Chilean mutton.