World geography

On Earth, the land is broken into large pieces. These pieces are separated by large bodies of water called Oceans. We call some of these pieces of land Continents. A Continent is an area of land. Some continents are surrounded by oceans and other continents are connected to other continents.

The seven continents

On Earth we have 7 continents. They are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

The seven continents

UNITED STATESSome 75 percent of the more than 260 million people in the United States live in towns and cities. Yet farmers, accounting for less than 2 percent of the population, lead the world in production of soybeans and corn.

NORTH AMERICAThe 455 million people of North America produce more goods and consume more resources than those on any other continent. Canada and the United States share a 5,500-mile (8,850-kilometer) border, the longest and one of the friendliest anywhere.

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SOUTH AMERICAThe continent has a relatively smallpopulation of only 319 million. Thepopulation of Brazil almost equals thatof all the other South Americancountries combined. Industry accountsfor one-third of the continent'seconomic activity.

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Asia consists of more than 40countries. Its population exceedsthree billion. Asia has thedistinction of having the mostpopulous country in the world,China.

RUSSIA AND THEINDEPENDENT NATIONSOF THE FORMER SOVIETUNION(SEE MAP OF EUROPE FORDETAILS)

From 1990 to 1995 the countries of Europe mushroomed from 33 to 43, most of which haveaccess to the ocean. In these countries live 686 million people who speak some 80 languages.

RUSSIA AND THE INDEPENDENT NATIONS OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNIONA few years back the Soviet Union was the biggest country in the world, dominating the Eurasian landmass from the Baltic Sea to thePacific Ocean. In 1991 the former communist colossus fragmented into Russia and 14 other countries, which are now coping with politicaland economic dislocation. Yet Russia remains the world's biggest nation, comprising more than 6,500,000 square miles (17,000,000 sq km).

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Africa is home to 53 independent countries and 720million people. Africa's population is expanding by 3percent a year, the highest growth rate of any continent.

The Structure of the Earth and Plate Tectonics

Structure of the Earth

• The Earth is made up of 3 main layers:– Core– Mantle– Crust

Inner core

Outer core

Mantle

Crust

The Crust

• This is where we live!

• The Earth’s crust is made of:

Continental Crust

- thick (10-70km)- buoyant (less dense than oceanic crust) - mostly old

Oceanic Crust

- thin (~7 km)- dense (sinks under continental crust)- young

• If you look at a map of the world, you may notice that some of the continents could fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

Plate Tectonics

• The Earth’s crust is divided into 12 major plates which are moved in various directions.

• This plate motion causes them to collide, pull apart, or scrape against each other.

• Each type of interaction causes a characteristic set of Earth structures or “tectonic” features.

• The word, tectonic, refers to the deformation of the crust as a consequence of plate interaction.

World Plates

Shapes of States

Note: All pictures from PowerPoint clipart.

A s t a t e t h a t i n c l u d e s s e v e r a l d i s c o n t i n u o u s p i e c e s o ft e r r i t o r y . * T h e s e t y p e s o f s t a t e s a r e a l i t t l e m o r e d i f f i c u l tt o g o v e r n b e c a u s e o f t h e i s o l a t i o n b e t w e e n a r e a s .

N o t e : M a n y s t a t e s a r e f r a g m e n t e d a s w e l l a s a n o t h e r s h a p e .

An otherwise compact state with a large projectingextension.* Prorupted states can benefit if theproruption leads to a resource such as water. It can alsowork as a separator between two sparring states.

A s t a t e t h a t i n c l u d e s s e v e r a l d i s c o n t i n u o u s p i e c e s o ft e r r i t o r y . * T h e s e t y p e s o f s t a t e s a r e a l i t t l e m o r e d i f f i c u l tt o g o v e r n b e c a u s e o f t h e i s o l a t i o n b e t w e e n a r e a s .

N o t e : M a n y s t a t e s a r e f r a g m e n t e d a s w e l l a s a n o t h e r s h a p e .

A state with a long, narrow shape.* These types of statesare harder to manage because of the possibility ofextreme distance form the capital and poorcommunication within.

Note: Italy and Norway are considered fragmented states also.

A state that completely surrounds another one.*Perforated states are somewhat hard to govern becausethe two states involved must be agreeable with each other.The interior state is usually landlocked and dependantupon the outer state to support it.

Note: Italy is considered a fragmented state also.

CLIMATE

BIOMES (VEGETATION)

Ireland

Capital cities:

London

Dublin

Belfast

Cardiff

Edinburgh

European capitals