The United Kingdom is an island off the western coast of Europe, located at 54 00 N, 2 00 W, slightly smaller than the state of Oregon, that consists of England, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland. Administratively, Britain includes the Isle of Wight, the Scilly Islands, the Hebrides, the Orkney and the Shetland Islands.

Geography

A total area of 50,363 square miles occupies only about one-thousandth of the world's land area but contains one-hundredth of the world's population and is, therefore, one of the most densely populated countries in the world. It is a division of the United Kingdom. Separated from the continent of Europe by the English Channel, the Strait of Dover, and the North Sea, it is bordered by Scotland to the north and Wales and the Irish Sea on it’s west side. The Isle of Wight and the Scilly Islands are part of England. Inland from the white chalk cliffs of the southern coast lie gently rolling downs and wide plains. The lowlands of the East Coast extend north to the reclaimed marsh of the Fens. Northern England, above the Humber River, is mountainous; the chief highlands are the Cumbrian Mts. and the Pennines. Central England, the Midlands, is a large plain interrupted and bordered by hills. In the west and southwest, the terrain is high and hilly. Among the principal cities are London, the capital of the United Kingdom; Birmingham and Manchester, both industrial centers; and Liverpool and Bristol, important ports. London is the largest port of England and is known as one of the largest in the World. Liverpool, which resides on the Mercy River, is one of Britains greatest ports and largest cities and a major outlet for industrial exports. Despite its northerly latitudes, England has a mild climate. Most of the region is subject to wet weather and some of it to severe cold, but in general, life in England is conducive to a variety of agricultural and industrial pursuits.

Geography

Scotland is one of four constituent nations, which form the United Kingdom. Scotland forms the northern part of the island of Great Britain. Scotland is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the north, by North Sea on the east, by England on the Southeast, by Ireland on the southwest, and by the Atlantic Ocean. Scotland is 31,510 sq. miles in area; it is 274 miles long from North to South and varies in width to 24 and 154 miles, with the population at 5, 120, 200, occupying an area of 7, 875, 918 in hectares. The Capital of Scotland is Edinburgh, the second largest city with a population of 441, 620.

Scotland is generally hilly and it is traditionally divided into three geographic regions from the north to south: the Highlands, the Lowlands, and the Southern Uplands The landscape is varied by series of hills and includes some of Scotland’s best areas for arable farming. The Southern Uplands are not as high in elevation as the Highlands or as fractured in appearance. Glaciation has led to narrow, flat valleys separating Table Mountains throughout much of the region. Toward the southeast the Uplands open out into the Tweed Valley, which broadens into rich alluvial farmland to the southwest they slope toward the Galloway Peninsula. Scotland’s climate is a temperate oceanic one that is mild given the northern latitude of Scotland. Rainfall in Scotland varies greatly. In the flat Outer Hebrides it does not exceed 40 inches, while in the Highland region it is 142 inches a year. Most of the coast receives 25 to 32 inches, but two-thirds of Scotland receives more than 4-inches.

Geography

The island of Ireland is situated in the extreme northwest of Europe located between 51.5 and 55.5 degrees north latitude and between 5.5 and 10.5 degrees west longitude. Ireland is in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain. The size,70,282 sq. km (27,136 sq. miles), in comparison, is slightly larger than West Virginia. The Irish Sea to the east, which separates Ireland from Britain, is from 17.6 to 192 km (11 to 120 miles) wide. The terrain is mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains and sea cliffs on West Coast. The island comprises a large central lowland of limestone with a relief of hills surrounded by a discontinuous border of coastal mountains, which vary greatly in geological structure. The mountain ridges of the south are composed of old red sandstone separated by limestone river valleys. Granite predominates in the mountains of Galway, Mayo and Donegal in the west and northwest and in Counties Down and Wicklow on the East Coast, while a basalt plateau covers much of the northeast of the country.  The central plain, which is broken in places by low hills, is extensively covered with glacial deposits of clay and sand. It has considerable areas of bog and numerous lakes. The Gulf Stream of the Northern Atlantic Current influences the maritime climate. With the prevailing winds predominantly from the southwest, the temperatures are uniform over the whole country. The coldest months are January and February with mean daily air temperatures of between 4C and 7C, while July and August are the warmest (14C to16C). In low-lying areas average annual rainfall is mostly between 800 and 1200 mm (31" to 47") but ranges from less than 750 mm (30") in some eastern areas to 1500 mm (59") in parts of the west. In mountainous areas annual rainfall may exceed 2000 mm (79"). Present population of 3,632,944. About 60% of the people live in cities and town of 1,000 or more inhabitants. Population densities are highest in the east and south. The population is very young with approximately 12% over 65 years, 67% 64–15 years and 21% are under fourteen years. Emigration has declined in recent years and immigration has increased. In 1999, there was a net inflow1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population.

Geography

Denmark is a country that is located in northern Europe located in the Baltic Sea. It has a population of 5,356,845 and nearly one-fourth of the population is found in the capital of Copenhagen. The land area is only about two times the size of Massachusetts (43,094 sq. km). The climate there is temperate generally characterized as humid and overcast with mild and windy winters and cool summers. The annual rainfall is 24 inches and due to the high humidity there are fewer rain showers, as it is generally a mist. The terrain is low and flat to gently rolling hills. The land structure allows 60% to be arable and 5% to be in permanent pastures. The are no permanent crops 10% is forested and the remaining 25% is land unsuitable for growing crops or has cities and industrial usage. Due to the lowlands there is sometimes a threat of flooding.

Denmark also controls two Danish straits that link the North Sea to the Baltic Sea. These straits are valuable to transportation of the natural resources found in Denmark. They include petroleum, and natural gas while fishing is also a major industry.

Geography

France is located in Western Europe bordering the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel, between Belgium and Spain southeast of the UK; Bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain. France is the largest West European nation with a total land area of 547,030 square km of which 1,400 square km are water.  France has a total population of 58,978,172 people. In comparative size France is slightly less than twice the size of Colorado.  The climate consists of generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean. Occasional strong, cold, dry north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral is present. France’s terrain is mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills throughout most of the country. The remainder is mostly mountainous, especially in the Pyrenees mountains in the south on the border of Spain, and the Alps on much of its eastern border. Flooding and avalanches are the two most prevalent natural hazards occurring in France.

The land makeup consists of 33% of the land as arable, 2% is in permanent crops, 20% is permanent pastures, and 27% consists of forests and woodlands. Natural resources found in France include coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish timber, zinc and potash.

Current environmental issues that face France are forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, and agricultural runoff.

Geography

Germany is located in Central Europe between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark. It borders the Baltic and North Seas. Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic also border Germany. In size Germany is slightly smaller than Montana. Approximately 82 million people 69% of which are aged 15-64 years make up the country’s population.

The terrain varies. Coastal lowlands characterize the north while the central section is highlands and the south is Bavarian Alps. Three large rivers run through Germany including the Rhine, Elbe, and Danube. Thirty-three percent of the land is arable, 1% is permanent crops, 15% is permanent pastures, 31% is forests and woodland, and the other 20% is divided for other uses (1993 est.). Some important natural resources include iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, and nickel. We are looking into Germany as both a source of imports and a possible export site. There are several large cities in Germany that may be important to our company.

Climate in Germany is temperate and marine. There is a cool, continental climate characterized by abundant rainfall and a long overcast season. Lower temperatures with considerable snowfall are common in the east and south. Occasionally a warm, tropical foehn wind is felt. The area is prone to rapid weather changes due to the high relative humidity and the merging of the Gulf Stream and extreme northeastern climate conditions. Germany is predisposed to flooding during the rainy seasons.

Current environmental issues include emissions from coal burning utilities and industries and vehicle exhaust, which are adding to air pollution and acid rain. This is damaging forests. Pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage, industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany, and hazardous waste disposal are also current issues.

Geography

Italy is located in the southern portion of Europe. It is a peninsular country that extends into the Mediterranean Sea. The population of Italy is about 56,735,130. Sardinia and Sicily are included under the Italian flag and the total land area is about the size of Arizona (301,230 sq. km). Italy has northern borders with Austria, France, Slovenia, and Switzerland while the remainder is coastland. The climate is mostly Mediterranean, with alpine in the far north and a hot and dry southern region. The annual rainfall is between 22 and 28 inches in the north with more moisture being received in the upper altitudes. The coastal plains usually receive about 35-45 inches annually. The terrain is rugged and mountainous in the north and has plains mixed with coastal lowlands in the south. The land is about31% arable with 10% in permanent crops, 15% in pastures and 23% in wooded land. The remainder is used for cities and industrial usage.

The major concerns that are associated with Italy’s topography are landslides, avalanches, earthquakes and floods. The location also is good for controlling the Mediterranean Sea and its ports allow for easily accessible trade exchanges.

Geography

Spain is located in Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France. There is a population of approximately 39 million people. It is roughly more than twice the size of Oregon when you look at its land area of 504,750 sq. miles.  The terrain is large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills with the Pyrenees to the north. The climate is temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast, relatively close to the climate of Nebraska.

Some natural resources that are prevalent in Spain are coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, copper, mercury, and hydropower.  About 1/3 of the land in Spain is forest, another1/3 is arable land, and the rest is permanent crops or pastureland.

Some current issues involving the environment in Spain are the pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; and desertification.  A large problem that Spain is dealing with right now is an unemployment rate of about 20%.

Geography

Switzerland is located in central Europe, east of France and north of Italy. Landlocked, Switzerland is the crossroads of northern and southern Europe. Also surrounding Switzerland are Austria, Liechtenstein, and Germany. Almost double the size of New Jersey, Switzerland has a population over 7.2 million. Sixty-eight percent of the country’s population is between the ages of 15 and 64.

The terrain is mostly mountainous. With the Alps in the south and Jura in the northwest, it has some of the highest elevations in Europe. Centrally located is a plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes. Ten percent of the land is arable, 2% is permanent crops, 28% is permanent pastures, 32% is forests and woodland, and 28% is used for varied other purposes. Some natural resources include hydropower potential, timber, and salt. France is a country with considerable tourism and should be considered for exporting value-added products.

Switzerland's climate is temperate, but varies with altitude from cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters to cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers. Avalanches, landslides, and flash floods are all natural hazards.

Some current environmental issues include air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning, acid rain, water pollution from fertilizers, and loss of biodiversity.

Geography

Poland is located in Central Europe and is shares its borders with many countries. Germany borders Poland to the west and the Czech Republic and Slovakia border Poland to the south. Poland’s northern border is the Baltic Sea and Poland borders several of the Newly Independent States to the east.

The major geography of Poland can be broken down into three regions, moving from north to south, which were formed by glaciers in the last ice age. The most predominant region is the lowlands. With the average elevation of the country being only 568 feet, it is obviously relatively flat. The second region is the highlands, which would be best understood as foothills. The final area of terrain is the mountainous region in the south. The Carpathian Mountains make up the southern border with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It should be noted that a vast majority of Poland is lowland country.

The capital of Poland is Warsaw, and the country is approximately the same size as New Mexico and has a population of 38.67m people. The country consists of 49 separate provinces. The longest river in Poland is the Vistula and there are approximately 9300 lakes of at least 2.5 or more acres in surface area.

The climate of Poland is temperate. Poland experiences cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation and mild summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms and average summer temperatures in the mid 60s. The phrase “frequent precipitation” is used loosely as the annual precipitation of Poland is only 24 inches per year. In the central lowlands of Poland, the annual precipitation is even less, around 18 inches. This is important because the central lowlands of Poland contain the most fertile soils as far as agriculture is concerned.

The land in Poland is 47% arable land, but only 1% of this is in permanent crops. Thirteen percent of the land is in permanent pasture and 29% is either forest or woodlands. The major natural resources include coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, and salt.

There have been environmental problems such as air an water pollution caused by coal fired power plants and various industry. Acid rain has caused forest damage and nearly all of Poland’s major waterways are polluted.

Geography

Romania is situated in Central Europe, in the northern part of the Balkan peninsula. It is slightly smaller than Oregon, with a population of nearly 23 million people. Romania’s capital, Bucharest is the largest city with over 2.3 million people living there. In Romania there are 25 countries that have a population of over 100,000 people.

Romania’s territory is marked by the Carpathian Mountains, the Danube, and the Black Sea.  The Danube River drains all of Romania except the Black Sea coast. The Carpathian Mountains account for about one third of the country’s area with alpine pastures above and thick forests below. Another third of Romania is covered by hills and tablelands full of orchards and vineyards. The final third is a fertile plain where cereals, vegetables, herbs and other crops are grown. Forty-three percent of the land is arable, 28% is forest and woodland, 19% meadows and pastures, 3% permanent crops and 7% is devoted to other uses. Eleven percent of the land is irrigated.

Romania’s climate is cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog: sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms. The average summer temperature is about 73 degrees F, the average winter temperature is about 25 degrees F. Precipitation varies from 19 inches in the east to nearly 57 inches in the mountains. Romania has severe earthquakes in the south and southwest and its geologic structure and climate promote landslides.

Geography

Slovakia is located in Central Europe and was formerly a republic of Czechoslovakia.  Slovakia borders Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine and Poland. It's about half the size of Colorado with 18,917 sq. mi. The major cities include Bratislava (capital) Kosice, Trnava, Nitra, Komarno and Nove Zamky.

The climate ranges from an average temperature of 68F in July to an average 23F in January. The growing season is about 200 days in less than half that in the mountains. The average precipitation is 22 inches in the plains to 43 inches in the valleys.

Most of Slovakia is covered by the Corpathian Mountains where there is some valuable resources including iron, copper, and coal. Only 1/3 of Slovakias  land is actually cultivated. In the lowlands they raise wheat, barley, sugar beets and corn and on the poorer soils around the Mountains they raise rye, oats and potatoes. Most of the country is covered by forest and is not suitable for agriculture.

Geography

Czech Republic is also located in Central Europe and is bordered by Poland, Germany, Austria and Slovakia. It's a little less than half the size of Nebraska with 30,443 sq. miles. Major cities include Prague the capital, Brno, Ostrava, Pilsen and Olumouc. There are two main geographic regions the Bohemian Plateau and the Moravian lowland.

The climate ranges from an average 91F in July to an average 1F in February. The growing season is ranges from 200 days too less than half that around the mountains similar to Slovakia. The average precipitation is about 18 inches in the central basin to more than 60 inches on the slopes of the mountains.

The country is landlocked and relies heavily on its rivers for exporting. Agriculture does well with better than average yields. They raise similar crops compared to Slovakia they include wheat, barley, rye, oats, and potatoes.

Geography

Austria is a small mountainous country located in central Europe. This landlocked country is bordered by Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungry, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and the small principality of Liechenstein. Austria has a land area of 32,378 square miles, which is about the same size as the state of Maine.

Of this total land area 62 percent is covered by the Alps. Just over 28 percent of the land is moderately hilly or flat. In the north lies a wooded foothill area.  The lowland area in the east starts off with Vienna and then to it's east is an extension of the Hungarian Great Plain. Austria has many lakes with many of them being the result of glacial erosion. The Danube is the major river in Austria with 96 percent of the land there draining into it.

The climate in Austria varies greatly depending on region. The western parts of Austria have an Atlantic climate with up to 40 inches of precipitation a year. In the east it is a bit drier more continental climate.  In the eastern lowlands and plains temperatures average 30.4 degrees fahrenheit in winter and 68.6 degrees in summer. To the west up I the mountains above 10000 feet temperatures average 11.8 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 35.8 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. There is about 10 foot of snow cover in the winter up there and 5 foot of cover in the summer.

Two thirds of Austria is covered with woods and meadows making it the most densely forested part of central Europe.  Where the land permits in the east there is significant agricultural activity.

Roughly half of the total population of Austria lives in cities of 10000 or more people. One fifth of the population lives in Vienna. Vienna touches both the lower alpine regions on the west and the lowland plain in the east. Austria is the center of travel in central Europe both east to west  along the great Danube trade route and north to south through alpine passes.

Geography

The Republic of Hungary is also a small central European country. It's land size is 35,561 square miles which is about the size of Indiana. Hungary shares borders with Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia.

The core of Hungary is made up of great lowland expanses. The Little Alfold (Little Hungarian plain) lies in the northwest and is bordered by the eastern most low Alps on the west and the Danube on the north. On the south a low mountain range separates the Little Afold from the Nagy Magyar Alfold (Great Hungarian Plain). The Great Plain covers most of central and southeastern Hungary.

The Danube regularly floods twice a year, first in the spring and then again in early summer. There is a relatively dry climate in the eastern areas of the Great Plain so large scale irrigation projects have been constructed. There are few lakes in Hungary and most are small with the largest only having 231 square miles of surface area.

The climate in Hungary is relatively dry with precipitation ranging from 20 to 24 inches. The central and southwestern parts of the Great Plain are the dries and the southwestern uplands are the wettest. Low temperatures in the winter average 25 degrees Fahrenheit and high temperatures in summer average 73 degrees Fahrenheit but extremes are common.
Human activities in Hungary have destroyed most all of the natural vegetation with more than half being cultivated. One sixth of the land is used for nonagricultural purposes. The remainder is made up of rough pastures and forests.

Nearly two thirds of the population of Hungary is urban with one third of the total population living around the Budapest metro. There are several interesting areas in Hungary. Lake Balaton is located in the rolling upland west of the Danube and is a leading resort area. To the south is Pecs which is a major mining and industrial city. Tokaj and the Eger Vineyards are located in the Northern mountains. Tourism is well developed here with numerous spas and other recreation centers.

So all in all Hungary has a good mix of agriculture and Metropolitan benefits which help to make the country a good candidate for investment.

Geography

Norway, on the western edge of the Scandinavian Peninsula, is located between Sweden and the Atlantic Ocean. It is approximately the size of Montana. For a country that size, it has a coastline longer than that of any major country in the world. Norway is home to roughly 4.5 million people.

Southeast Norway contains extensive areas of forest and gentle valleys. Southwest Norway features spectacular fjords and is home to most of the nation’s population. Northern Norway is a vast region of fjords and mountains and contains some of the largest glaciers in Europe. Approximately 2/3 of the nation is mountainous and some 50,000 islands outline the rugged western coastline.

The climate of Norway varies from one region to another. Nearly one-third of Norway is north of the Arctic Circle therefore experiencing frigid weather year round. The coastal climate is one of mild winters and cool summers and frequent precipitation. The interior of the country has colder winters, warmer summers, and less precipitation.

Nearly one-third of Norway is covered by forest, providing a home to rich animal and plant life. Reindeer, elk, and roe deer are common, as are predatory animals such as the brown bear, the wolf, and the lynx. Freshwater and saltwater fish abound in the lakes and coastal waters.

Norway’s principal mineral resources are petroleum and natural gas extracted from reserves in the North Sea. Norway is the second largest oil producing nation in the world.

The agricultural products most common to Norway include: oats, other grains; beef, milk; fish.

Geography

Sweden is located in Northern Europe on the eastern half of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It lies between Norway and The Gulf of Bothia, off of the Baltic Sea. Sweden strategically links the Baltic and North Seas. There are slightly less than 9 million people in Sweden.

Sweden’s land area is comparable to that of California. High mountains occupy the northwest. A plateau sloping down to gently rolling lowlands and plains in the east and south bound the mountainous northwest region.

Sweden is a densely forested nation with two-thirds of its land covered in forest. The forests provide Sweden’s principal natural resource. Alpine and arctic vegetation can be found in the north, while oak and beech are common in the south. Deer, elk, and reindeer are plentiful.

One-seventh of Sweden is above the Arctic Circle, where daylight is continuous in the summer for about two months, and continuous darkness occurs in the winter for about two months. Apart from the arctic climate of the north, Sweden’s climate primarily includes temperate areas with cold, cloudy winters and cool, moderate summers. Ice flows in surrounding waters, mainly in the Gulf of Bothnia, interfere with maritime traffic. Pollution from acid rain damages soils and the many rivers and lakes found in Sweden.

Geography

Finland is located in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia. Finland has a population of a little more than 5 million people. Finland’s land area is slightly smaller than Montana with a terrain of mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills.

Land usage consists of 8% arable land and 76% forests and woodlands. There is only 640 sq. km of irrigated land. The terrain of Finland consists of the costal lowlands, the central lake district, forests, swamps, and tundra of the northern uplands. Over 75% of the territory is covered with forests, and about 10% lakes. There are around 30,000 islands along the coast. One quarter of Finland is north of the Arctic circle.

The climate of Finland is cold. It is almost sub-arctic, but relatively mild because of the moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, the Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes. The majority of the population of Finland is concentrated on a small southwestern coastal plain.

Natural resources include timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, and silver. There are ports in the cities of Oulu, Kokkola, Pori, Rauma, Uusikaupunki, Turku, Helsinki, Kotka, Lovlisa, and Hamina.

Ninety-three percent of the people speak the official language of Finnish. There is very little migration into Finland and only half of the population (about 2.5m) are in the workforce.

Geography

Lithuania is located on the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Russia (Kaliningrad) and has a population of roughly 3.6 million people. Vilnius, the capital city, has a population of 593,000. Klaipeda, Lithuania’s major seaport, lies along Courland Lagoon and has a major shipbuilding yard as well as a large deep-sea fishing fleet. Its area is slightly larger than that of West Virginia and is made up of mainly lowland areas with many small lakes. Fifty-four percent of the land is used for agriculture and another 31% are woodland area.

Lithuania’s terrain was formed in the Ice Age by glaciers. These glaciers left behind sandy soils in the northwest and along the coastline. The central region is where the most fertile and agriculturally active soils are located. There are also sandy soils in the southeast, and it is in these soils that most of the woodlands are located. Pine, oak, spruce, birch, black alder, and aspen trees are native to Lithuania.

The climate of Lithuania is transitional; meaning it has wet but moderate winters and summers. January, the coldest month, has an average temperature of 23 degrees F. July, the warmest month, has average temperatures of around 63 degrees F. On average, 31 inches of rain fall, diminishing farther inland. The peak month for rainfall is August.

Geography

Located in eastern Asia, China sits to the south of Russia and to the north of Vietnam. It occupies the third largest area of any country in the world, after Russia and Canada. Comparatively, it is slightly larger than the United States. With a population of more than one billion, China is the earth’s most populated country. Specifically, it sustains 22 percent of the world’s entire population.

China’s land surface is extremely diverse. It is rugged and uneven, with almost one third of its area consisting of mountains and hills. There is also a large area of desert in the west, which is annually very dry. Only ten percent of China’s land is actually considered arable. That region is concentrated primarily in the east to Southeastern sections of the country, which is also the only area with substantial rainfall. Most of the year it also very humid there. As far as temperature patterns, China is similar to the United States geographical position. It sits on a middle latitude portion of the earth and demonstrates below freezing temperatures in the winter to mild summers in the north. In the south there are very mild winters and hot summers. The Southeastern region, which is tropical, has a warm growing season that lasts year round. It is suitable to grow two crops a year. The northern region is mostly subarctic.

An important feature of China’s climate is the high frequency of typhoons, which are similar to Atlantic hurricanes, only they sweep in from the western Pacific. Flood and wind damage are a large problem resulting from these. Earthquakes and droughts are also normal geographical occurrences.

China has a large and varied stock of natural resources. The variety of different landforms, soil conditions, and climate patterns also offer many different opportunities for agricultural production. Rice, wheat, and corn make up 90 percent of the agricultural production. They also occupy 85 percent of the land that is under cultivation. Transportation networks are difficult and expensive to plan and build in many areas, where inaccessibility and geographic isolation have seriously impeded China’s development in many areas.

Geography

Taiwan is situated in the South China Sea, about 100 miles off the Southeast coast of mainland China. It is roughly the size of Maryland and Delaware combined. More that two thirds of the country consists of rugged mountains. Its location on the Tropic of Cancer gives the lowlands of the country a mostly subtropical climate, which provides for a year round growing season. Approximately 24 percent of its land is arable. Rice and sugarcane are the prominent agricultural products grown on this land. Taiwan also raises lesser amounts of pigs, goats, and cattle. Similar to China, it also endures typhoons and earthquakes.

Geography

Japan is located off the coast of East Asia and is made up of four main Islands and several smaller islands. The four main islands that take up most of Japan’s area are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The largest island is Honshu, which also houses most of Japans 146 million people. Japan is slightly smaller than California with a terrain that is rugged and mountainous. These mountains account for almost four-fifths of Japans total land. In Japan only 11% of the land is arable, 1% is used for permanent crops, 2% is used for permanent pastures, 67% is used for forest and wood lands, and 19% is used for other resources.

The climate in Japan ranges from tropical in the south to cool temperate in the north. The average temperature in Japan rages from 43 degrees F in the north to 63 degrees F in the south. Japan’s climate is considered monsoonal. In the winter monsoon rain and snow is received on the west side of Japan. When the monsoon winds are stopped by the mountain ranges it leaves windy dry weather to the east side. Precipitation is plentiful in Japan, which gets about 40 inches per year. Most of the rain falls during the summer months except for the west coast which receives monsoon precipitation during the winter.

Japan has many dormant and active volcanoes. The highest volcano is Mount Fuji, which towers 12,000 feet. Japan has about 1500 seismic occurrences.  These seismic occurrences can cause tsunamis, which are large destructive waves that result from seismic activity. Another Natural hazard that occurs in Japan is large tropical storms called typhoons, which are comparable to hurricanes.

Geography

South Korea is located between the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan and has a population of approximately 46 million people. It is slightly larger than Indiana and is made up of mostly mountains regions with small valleys and narrow coastal plains. About 19% of the land is arable, 2% is used for permanent crops, 1% is used for permanent pastures, 65% is used for forest and woodlands and 13% of the land is used for other purposes.  The land in South Korea is capable of growing rice barley, wheat, soybeans, potatoes, millet and a wide variety of vegetables.  Double-cropping of rice and barley is common in the south.

The climate in South Korea is temperate; characterized by long, cold, dry, winters (October through May) and short, hot, humid summers (June through September). The average temperature in the summer is about 77 degrees F and in the winter the temperature averages about 25 degrees F. The average rainfall is 35 to 60 inches with monsoons and flooding in late summer.

Geography

India is located in Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan. It is slightly more than one-third the size of the United States and has a population of just over 1 billion people. India has approximately 14,000 km of land boundaries. Half of these are coastline while 4,000 km border Bangladesh, 600 km border Bhutan, 1,400 km border Burma, 3,400 km border China, 1,700 border Nepal, and 2,900 km border Pakistan. The topography of India is broken into three main geological regions. The Himalayas in the north, the Deccan Plateau (or Deccan) in the south, and the Indo-Gangetic Plain between the two. Of this land 56% is arable, 23% is in forests and woodlands, 4% is in permanent pastures, and 1% is permanent crops. Elevation changes are also extreme in India, with the highest point being at the top of Kanchenjunga at 8, 598 m, and the lowest point being 0 m at the Indian Ocean.

India’s seasonal cycle includes three main phases: the cool, dry winter from October to March; the hot, dry summer from April to June; and the southwest monsoon season of warm, torrential rains from mid-June to September. Average daily temperatures in January range from 13° to 27° C (55° to 81° F) in the northeastern city of Calcutta; from 7° to 21° C (44° to 70° F) in the north central city of Delhi; from 19° to 28° C (67° to 83° F) in the west central coast city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay); and from 19° to 29° C (67° to 85° F) in the vicinity of Chennai (formerly Madras) on the southeastern coast. Dry weather generally accompanies the cool winter season, although severe storms sometimes traverse the country, yielding slight precipitation on the northern plains and heavy snowfall in the Himalayas.

India’s hot and dry season reaches its most oppressive stage during May, when temperatures as high as 49° C (120° F) are commonly recorded in the northern plains. Temperatures in the southern peninsula are somewhat lower, averaging 35° to 40° C (95° to 104° F). At higher altitudes, as in the Western Ghats and the Himalayas, temperatures are considerably cooler. The intense heat breaks when the summer monsoon season arrives in June, which is also when most of the country’s rain falls. The average annual rainfall for India as a whole is 1,250 mm (about 49 in). The heaviest rainfall occurs along the Western Ghats, often more than 3,175 mm (more than 125 in), and on the slopes of the eastern Himalayas and the Khâsi Hills (of Meghalaya), where the town of Cherrapunji receives about 10,900 mm (about 430 in) annually. The entire northeast region averages more than 2,000 mm (about 80 in) annually, with the Bihâr plateau, Orissa, and the Bengal region receiving nearly as much. Rain and snow fall in abundance on the entire Himalayan range but decreases decreases towards the south, which receives an annual average of about 800 to 1,000 mm (about 32 to 40 in) of rain.

Geography

Thailand is located in Southeastern Asia. Thailand is bordered by Burma to the west and north, Malaysia to the south, Laos to the north and east, and Cambodia to the southeast. The population of Thailand is a little more than 61 million. The total area of Thailand is 514,000 sq km, which is comparatively slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming. Total land boundaries in Thailand are 4,863 km and coastlines total 3,219 km. Thailand’s topography includes the central plain dominated by the Mae Nam River and its tributaries. In the northeast is the dry, undulating Khorat Plateau, which is bordered on the east by the Medong River. Mountains run along the northern and western borders with Burma and extend south into the narrow, rain-forested Malay Peninsula. Elevations vary throughout Thailand with the lowest point being the Gulf of Thailand (0 m) and the highest point being Doi Inthanon (2,576 m).

Thailand’s climate is tropical. From mid-May to September, the rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon exists. The dry, cool northeast monsoon occurs in November to mid-March. The southern isthmus is always hot and humid. The rainfall is heaviest in the south and lightest in the northeast. Soils throughout Thailand are of low fertility, as a result of leaching by heavy rainfall. Thailand’s land use consists of 34% arable land, 26% forests and woodland, 6% permanent crops, 2% permanent pastures, and 32% other. Approximately 44,000 sq km of the land is irrigated.

Geography

Vietnam is located in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, and is neighbored by the countries of China, Laos, and Cambodia. Its land mass is only slightly larger than New Mexico, yet has 3,444 km of coastline and is occupied by approximately 77 million people.

Southern Vietnam has a tropical climate, while the north is monsoonal with a hot, rainy season from mid-May to mid-September and a warm, dry season from mid-October to mid-March. Northern portions of Vietnam have an annual mean temperature of 73 degrees, while southern areas have an annual mean temperature of 81 degrees. The summer months are very wet with occasional typhoons, while winter is a drier period.

Vietnam’s terrain is characterized as being a low, flat delta in the north and south, highlands throughout the central region, and mountainous in the far north and northwest. Some of Vietnam’s natural resources include: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, and forests. Seventeen percent of the land composition is arable, 4% hosts permanent crops, 1% is used as permanent pasture, 30% is occupied by forests and woodlands, and the remaining 48% is classified as other uses. Occasional typhoons between May and January is a natural hazard in Vietnam, often causing extensive flooding and soil erosion. Environmental concerns for the country include logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices which contribute to deforestation and soil degradation. The marine life populations are also threatened due to water pollution and overfishing. Vietnam’s potable water supply is also limited due to extensive groundwater contamination. Additionally, the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are experiencing a significant increase in industrialization and population migration which is rapidly degrading the environment.

Geography

Malaysia is slightly north of the equator on the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. The nation is also located on northern Borneo Island to the east. Malaysia shares its borders with Thailand, Brunei, and Indonesia. In all, it is roughly larger than New Mexico with a population exceeding 21million. A majority of the urban population lives on the Mayan Peninsula and some cities on the coast of Borneo.

Forest and woodland cover most of Malaysia and its climate is classified as tropical. The terrain is mostly mountainous with the exception of rolling hills leading to 4,675 km of coastal plains. Flooding and landslides are the most prominent natural hazards in Malaysia.

Geography

Singapore borders the Singapore Strait and is made up of islands located in Southeastern Asia between the countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. In terms of area, Singapore is slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC. The island’s population is over 3.5 million, and the terrain of Singapore is mostly lowlands. The climate is tropical with no pronounced rainy or dry seasons. Thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days. Because of the soil and environment conditions, only 6% of all land is in permanent crops, meaning Singapore is not an agricultural oriented country. Over 87% of the land is industrialized and in cities. This leads to environmental concerns with industrial pollution and the limited land available presents waste disposal problems.

Geography

Indonesia is a large island country, approximately three times the size of Texas, and is located off the Southeast Asian peninsula between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The only two physical borders that Indonesia shares are with Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, and with Papua New Guinea, on the New Guinea Island.

Indonesia’s population is over 216 million, the fourth most populated country in the world. Over 100 million people are crowded onto Java Island, while the large provinces of Kalimantan and Irian Jaya have the lowest population densities in the nation. Much of these islands still remains undeveloped and unexplored.

Because it straddles the Equator, Indonesia’s typical climate is very tropical with heavy rainfall and monsoons from December to March. A dry season that lasts from June to October often brings considerably less rain to this region. Terrain for the 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia is mostly tropical forest and coastal lowlands, but larger islands do have many active volcanic mountains within their interior.

Indonesia is saturated with fossil fuels and minerals. The islands of Sumatra and Java have several natural gas and oil basins as well as tin, coal, and gold mines. Other major exports of Indonesia include Nickel, copper, rubber, and lumber. Agricultural production of rice, coffee, palm oil, and coconuts is used mostly to support the people of Indonesia rather than for export purposes.

Geography

Australia is a continent, as well as a country. It is located between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific, being completely surrounded by water. It is the world’s smallest continent, but the sixth-largest country, having an area slightly smaller than the United States. It includes the main island, as well as the island of Tasmania, which is an Australian state located to the southeast of the mainland.

The topography of Australia is made up of low plateaus with deserts. One third of the country is desert, and another third is semidesert. These two-thirds receive less than 20 inches of rain per year. The north, east, southeast, and southwest edges are the only areas that receive enough precipitation to support vegetation. Over half of the country is in permanent pasture, and about one fifth is forests. Only six percent of Australia is arable land.

The climate is arid to semiarid, with temperate regions in the south and east, and a tropical region in the north. Summer temperatures are commonly over 100 degrees F. Tasmania is the only exception. Winter temperatures are moderate, except in the southeast, and in Tasmania, where snow commonly falls. Summer monsoons bring rain to the northern coastal areas.

As of July 1999, Australia had a population of approximately 18.8 million people. The country is sometimes hit by cyclones along the coast, and is susceptible to severe droughts.

Geography

New Zealand is located southeast of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean. Collectively, it is approximately the size of Colorado. The country is made up of two main islands, the North Island and South Island, as well as many other small islands: the Antipodes Islands, the Auckland Islands, the Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, the Chatham Islands, and the Kermadec Islands. The North and South Islands are bisected by mountain ranges. Snow-fed rivers drain from them into the ocean.

The South Island contains the Southern Alps, which are a 300-mile long chain of mountains. They break into steep ridges on the edges. New Zealand’s mountains have an extensive glacier system with lakes. The southern part of the island is rugged and not very accessible, but contains beautiful scenery. There is a high plateau on the eastern border. The productive Canterbury Plains are on the South Island. This is the country’s principle lowland area.

The North Island receives less precipitation than the South Island. Its climate is less severe and possesses greater economic potential. Much of the island is rolling and has fertile pockets near the river systems. The country’s largest lake, Lake Taupo, is surrounded by bustling economic activity, since there is fertile land near it, especially to the north. The major river, the Waikato, is also on the North Island.

The climate of New Zealand is not extreme. A typical weather pattern includes a few days of nice weather with clear skies followed by unsettled, rainy weather. The average seasonal temperature variation is only 18 degrees F. Summer temperatures generally range from 70 to 81 degrees, and winter daytime temperatures are usually above 50 degrees F.

About 80 percent of New Zealand’s 3.7 million people (July 1999 estimate) live in cities. Half of the land is used for permanent pasture, 28 percent is forests, 9 percent is arable, and 5 percent is used as permanent cropland. The soils are typically lacking nutrients, but they are highly variable across the country. The country frequently experiences small earthquakes and is also prone to volcanoes.

Geography

The Philippines is a chain of islands between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. It is directly south of Taiwan, and east of Vietnam. The country is slightly larger than Arizona, and as of July 1999, contained nearly 80 million people. The many islands have a collective coastline of over 21,500 miles.

Almost half of the mountainous terrain is forests and woodland. There are varying amounts of lowlands along the coasts. There are also plains lying amid the mountains, which contain most of the population. The Pasig River is commercially important, and flows through the capital city of Manila.

The climate is a tropical one, and is influenced greatly by monsoons. From May to October, the winds blow from the southwest, and from November to February, they come from the northeast. Temperatures are fairly stable from north to south, but rainfall is highly variable. The dry season runs from December to May, and this season shortens to the east until it completely diminishes. The first three months of the dry season are cool, and the second three are hot.

Arable land makes up 19 percent of the country, 12 percent of the land is permanent crops, and 4 percent is permanent pastures. The Philippines is hit with five to six cyclones per year. The country also experiences landslides, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tsunamis, which are highly destructive waves caused by earthquakes.

Geography

Papua New Guinea is a group of islands east of Indonesia, between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean. It includes the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; the western half belongs to Indonesia. Its 4.7 million people (July 1999 est.) live in a country that is slightly larger than California. The central part of the main island is known as the Highlands, which is a wide range of mountains that is densely forested. The coastline is blessed with spectacular coral reefs.

Most of the country is mountainous, but there are also coastal lowlands and rolling foothills. An overwhelming 93 percent of the country is forests and woodlands. One percent is permanent crops and less than one percent is arable land. There are two major rivers in the country, the Sepik and the Fly, both of which are navigable for small vessels.

The climate is a tropical monsoon. It is hot and humid all year, with a temperature ranging only from 72 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit. The rainfall varies considerably, ranging from 47 inches per year at Port Moresby (the capital) in the southeast to 200 inches in the mountainous western areas. Northwest monsoons affect the country from December to March, and southeast monsoons are present from May to October The country is frequently affected by earthquakes and mudslides. Located along the Pacific “Rim of Fire”, it is also subject to volcanic activity.

Geography

Belarus is between Russia on the east and Poland on the west. It is slightly smaller than Kansas with a generally flat terrain with many forests, lakes, and marshes. The climate in Belarus is very steady compared to Nebraska. Winter average is near freezing with summer time being a cool 60 degree average, with precipitation occurring about every two days. 45% of the land is arable, permanent crops, or permanent pastures. Of that 45%, only 1,000 sq km are irrigated. The other 55% is forests, woodlands, and other marshy lands. The highest point of elevation is at the Nyoman river raising 90 meters above sea level.The highest point is at Dzyarzhynskaya Hara toping out at 346 meters. There are no natural hazards in Belarus, but there is still soil contamination from the Ukrainian Chornobyl’ disaster. The largest city and capital is centrally located Minsk. Belarus has a centrally planned economy dominated by state-controlled heavy industry. Of the population of over ten million people(July 1999), two thirds of them live in urban areas. It is relatively poor in terms of natural resources. There are abundant peat deposits, which are used for fuel and mulching material in agriculture. Some small deposits of hard coal, brown coal, and petroleum are found in the southwest, but are not easily accessible and remain undeveloped. There are two main rivers, one going north south, and the other west east. The forests and woodlands, made up of coniferous trees, is home to thousands of lakes and marshes as well as more than 70 mammals and 280 bird species.

Geography

Georgia, once part of the Soviet Union is bordered by and is the size of South Carolina. The region of this country is mountainous with more than one third covered by forests. The terrain can be divided into three ranges. In the north, rising eastward is a series of mountain belts that are separated by deep gorges. Awesome crest-line peaks include those of Mount, which at 16,627 feet is the highest point in this country. Other peaks of this range include, Mount Rutaveli and Tetnuld, which stand over 15,000 feet respectively.

The southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus form the second range, which consists of central lowlands formed on a depression. Coming off of this range, major rivers of Western Georgia, the Inguri, Rioni, and Kodori flow over a broad area to the Black Sea.

To the east the Meskhet and Likh ranges link the Greater and Lesser Caucasus ranges, which mark the watershed into the Caspian and Black seas. In central Georgia, lies an inner plateau known as the Kartili Plain. Surrounded by mountains in all four directions, this plateau extends along the Kura River and its tributaries.

The Georgia territory is filled with five different types of soil. These types range from the gray-brown and saline semi-desert types to richer red earth and podzols.

The Caucasian barrier shields the Georgian population from cold air that comes from the north, while the country is exposed to the warm moist air from the Black Sea. Western Georgia has a humid subtropical climate, and the eastern part feels the moderately humid to dry subtropical type. Western Georgia also has heavy rainfall throughout the year, ranging from 40-100 inches. Winter in this region is mild and warm, with temperatures ranging from and averages 41 degrees F in the winter to 71 degrees F in the summer.

As we move into the eastern part of the country precipitation begins to decrease ranging from 16-28 inches in the plains and foothills, but doubles once in the mountains. The southeastern section of the country is the driest area with winter being the driest season. The highest lowland temperatures occur in July (77 degrees F), while January averages from 32-37 degrees F.

The constant climate in the west has preserved many rare items, including the Pitsunda pines. The forests include oak, chestnut, beech, and alder, as well as Caucasian fir, ash, linden, and apple and pear trees. Evergreens and deciduous shrubs like the Caucasian bilberry and nut trees dominate the western area.

Eastern Georgia contains fewer forests with the steppes covered with thickets of prickly underbrush, as well as feather and beard grass. Herbaceous sub alpine and alpine vegetation grows extensively in the highest regions. Also, in this region the animal kingdom is very diverse. Goats and Caucasian antelope roam in the high elevations, while rodents inhibit the high meadows. The birds of this region include the mountain turkey, the Caucasian black grouse, and the mountain and bearded eagles. Trout in this territory dominates the rivers and mountain lakes.

The forested regions of the country are filled with wild boars, roe and Caucasian deer, brown bears, lynx, wolves, foxes, jackals, hares, and squirrels. Birds found here are the thrush, black vulture, and hawk.

The population in Georgia is approximately 5,066,500.

Geography

The Ukraine also a part of the Former Soviet Union is approximately the size of the state of Texas. The countries of Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Slovakia border the Ukraine. Its land is mostly fertile plains and plateaus. Its only mountainous region is the Carpathians in the west, and in the Crimean Peninsula. These mountain ranges occupy only five percent of the Ukraine’s, and only occur along their borders. The rivers are the most important part of the Ukraine’s geography, and to support this a number of canals have been built. Most of the larger river systems are navigable, including the Dnieper, Danube, Dniester, Pripits, Donets, and Southern Buh. Dams and hydroelectric plants have been built along these major waterways.

The Ukraine lies in a predominantly temperate climate, which is due to moderately warm humid air from the Atlantic Ocean. Average annual temperatures range from 42-45 degrees F in the north to 52-55 degrees F in the south. With the coldest month of the year being January and the warmest in July. Making their climate much like the upper Midwest of the United States. Precipitation is also much like the upper Midwest. As much as two to three time as much precipitation occurs in the warmer months than the cold months. The bulk of there precipitation occurs in June and July. Snowfalls usually occur in late November and December and varies from a few inches in the plains to several feet in the Carpathians. The Ukraine’s average precipitation is 16 to 24 inches per year. The southern shore of Crimea is a milder Mediterranean climate. With an average January temperature of 39 degrees F and in July a dry 75 degrees F.

The Ukraine’s natural resources consist of iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, and timber. But quite possibly their greatest natural resource is there geographic location, as being the gateway to Europe.

Geography

Russia is the largest country in the world encompassing 6,592,800 square miles of land and inland water. This total area is slightly less than 1.8 times the land area of the United States. Located in northern Asia, Russia borders the Arctic Ocean to the north, the North Pacific Ocean in the east and Europe to the west.

Covering such a large expanse of land, the climate varies dramatically throughout Russia. Much of European Russia (western Russia) is characterized by a humid continental climate. Siberia and northern Russia climates are tundra and subarctic. Steppes in the south create a high altitude climate in southern Russia. As a result of such a degree of climate and land changes from north to south, the resulting weather varies from frigid winters and cool summers in the north and cool along the Black Sea coast in the winter to rather warm in the steppe area of southern Russia during the summer.

The terrain varies from broad plains to rolling low hills west of the Ural Mountains, which run north to south through west central Russia. In contrast, Siberia is composed of vast coniferous forests and tundra, while uplands and mountains represent the southern steppe area of Russia. Land usage is primarily forest and woodland, comprising 46% of the total land area, followed by arable land at 8% and pastures at 4%. There is estimated to be a total of 4,219,324,388 acres of agricultural land, including 25,600,000 acres of irrigated land.

Although Russia has plentiful natural resources such as oil, coal, minerals, natural gas deposits, and timber, the rugged terrain, climate, and great distances have greatly impeded their exploitation. Likewise, these same obstacles have hindered international trade, as ease of transportation is limited only to certain areas.

Geography

The Bahamas are a chain of nearly 700 islands, stretching more than 500 miles southeasterly from Grand Bahama Island, which lies about 60 miles off the southeastern coast of Florida, to Great Inagua Island, which is about 50 miles from the eastern tip of Cuba. The Bahamas separate the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, with land area slightly less than Connecticut. Only about 30 of the islands are inhabited, with a population of approximately 284 thousand people.

The islands of the Bahamas are relatively unproductive. Most of the islands are bare limestone formations. Some are long, flat coral formations with some low rounded sand dunes, covered by hardwood forests, Caribbean pine, or other shrubs and low trees. Land use consists of only 1% arable land, 32% forests and woodlands, and no permanent crops or pastures. Natural resources include salt, aragonite, and timber.

The Bahamian climate, mild throughout the year, is one of the great attractions of the area. The average temperature varies from 70º F during the winter to 81º F during the summer, and extremes seldom fall below 60º F or rise above 90º F. The average annual rainfall is about 44 inches, occurring mostly during the summer months. Prevailing winds, coming from the northeast in winter and from the southeast in summer, lend a cooling influence to a generally humid atmosphere. Hurricanes present something of a threat during the period from mid-July to mid-November and have occasionally caused great destruction.

The Bahamas are in a strategic location, located near the US and Cuba. Possible ports of interest are Freeport, Matthew Town, and Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas.

Costa Rica is located between Nicaragua and Panama bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific. The country has a population of around 3.7 million people. Costa Rica is slightly smaller than West Virginia in comparison with a terrain of coastal plains separated by rugged mountain chains such as the Cordillera’s and the Talamanca’s. The lowest point in the country is the Pacifc Ocaen at 0 feet, while the highest point is Cerro Chirripo at 12,500 feet. Costa Rica’s climate is tropical. The dry season extends from December to April, while the rainy season is from May to November. Costa Rica is prone to occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along the Atlantic coast, and frequent flooding of lowlands during the rainy season. Some major ports in Costa Rica include San Jose and Puerto Limon.

Costa Rica uses its land for many different things. Costa Rica uses 6% as arable land, 5% as permanent crops, 46% as permanent pastures, and forests and woodlands make up 31% of their land us. Some of these crops are irrigated which consist of a total area of 463 square miles of irrigated land. Different crops for the country of Costa Rica include coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes, beef, and timber. Some crops including coffee, bananas, and sugar are mostly used for exports.

Geography

Cuba is the largest nation in the Caribbean, located approximately 90 miles south of Florida. The island is 777 miles in length and is between 19 and 119 miles in width, with 3,570 miles of coastline. It is slightly smaller than the state of Pennsylvania, with a population of approximately 11.1 million people.

Cuba’s terrain consists mostly of flat to rolling plains, with a quarter of the land consisting of rugged hills and mountains. Plains cover nearly two-thirds of the land area, allowing the production of crops and livestock. Land use consists of 24% arable land, 7% permanent crops, 27% permanent pasture, and 24% forests and woodlands. Natural resources include cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, and petroleum.

Cuba lies in the tropical zone, influenced by the northeast trade winds in winter and east-northeast winds in summer. The warm currents that form the Gulf Stream have a moderating influence along the coasts. The average annual temperature is 79º F, with little variation between January (the coolest month, at 73º F) and August (the warmest month, at 82º F). The November-April dry season abruptly changes to the rainy May-October season. Annual rainfall averages 54 inches. Between August and November, the east coast often is exposed to hurricanes, occasionally causing great economic damage and human suffering. Droughts are also not uncommon.

Havana is the capital of Cuba, and other ports include Cienfuegos, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas, and Santiago de Cuba.

Geography

Honduras, located in Central America, borders Guatemala to the west, El Salvador to the south, and Nicaragua to the east. The second largest country in Central America, Honduras is slightly larger than Tennessee, with total area over 43,000 square miles and a population of approximately 6 million people.

Generally mountainous, the country is marked by fertile plateaus, river valleys, and narrow coastal plains. There is approximately 500 miles of coastline. The Caribbean lowlands have a tropical wet climate with consistently high temperatures and humidity, and rainfall fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The Pacific lowlands have a tropical wet and dry climate with high temperatures but a distinct dry season from November through April. The interior highlands also have a distinct dry season, but, as is characteristic of a tropical highland climate, temperatures in this region decrease as elevation increases. Rain falls year round in the Caribbean lowlands but is seasonal throughout the rest of the country. Both the Caribbean and Pacific lowlands have daytime highs averaging between 82 degrees F and 90 degrees F throughout the year. In the Pacific lowlands, April, the last month of the dry season, brings the warmest temperatures.

15% of the land in Honduras is arable. Permanent crops cover 3% of the land area. The total land use for permanent pastures is 14%. Forests and woodlands cover 54% of the land. There are frequent mild earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods along the Caribbean coast. The terrain is mostly mountainous in the interior with narrow coastal plains. Natural resources that Honduras has include timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, and fish.

Geography

Jamaica is found in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba. It lies in a strategic location between the two main sea-lanes for the Panama Canal, the Cayman Trench and the Jamaica Channel. The total area for Jamaica is 4,243 square miles, and is occupied by a population of approximately 2.65 million people. The country is slightly smaller than Connecticut and the terrain is mostly mountainous with narrow, discontinuous coastal plains. The land use is divided into arable land (14%), permanent crops (6%), permanent pastures (24%), forests and woodland (17%), and other uses (39%). Natural resources found on the island are bauxite, gypsum, and limestone.

The climate consists of tropical conditions, hot and humid with a temperate interior. The temperature varies from 90º F on the coasts to 40º F on the peaks. Seasonal rains fall mainly in October and May, although thunderstorms in the summer months can bring heavy showers. The average annual rainfall for the entire island is 82 inches, but regional variations are considerable. The mountains force the trade winds to deposit more than 130 inches a year on the eastern parish of Portland, while little precipitation occurs on the hot, dry savanna lands of the southern and southwestern plains.

Hurricanes are one of the natural hazards experienced in Jamaica, especially from July to November. Major ports are Alligator Pond, Montego Bay, Discovery Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel (Longswharf), Rocky Point, and the Capital, Kingston. The harbor found at Kingston is the seventh largest natural harbor in the world.

Geography

Nicaragua, located in Central America, borders Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. It separates the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. It is slightly larger than New York State and slightly smaller than Tennessee. It is the largest but most sparsely populated of the Central American nations, with a population of approximately 4.7 million people.

The climate is slightly cooler and much wetter in the east than in the west. The Pacific side is characterized by a rainy season from May to November and a dry season from December to April. The annual average temperature is 81o F, and precipitation averages 75 inches yearly. On the Caribbean side of the country, the rainy season lasts for about nine months of the year, and a dry season extends from March through May. The annual average temperature is 79o F, and annual precipitation averages almost 150 inches. In the northern mountains temperatures are cooler and average about 64o F. Prevailing winds are from the northeast and are cool on the high plateau, and warm and humid in the lowland.

There are 565 miles of coastline in Nicaragua, with a total area of about 50 thousand square miles. 9% of the total land area is arable land, 1% is permanent crops, 46% is permanent pastures, and 27% is forests and woodlands. The terrain consists of extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains and a narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes. The country is also very susceptible to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes.

Geography

Panama is located between Colombia and Costa Rica and has a population of approximately 2.8 million people. Panama is slightly smaller than the state of South Carolina. Panama is unique because of its strategic location on the eastern end of the isthmus forming the land bridge that connects North and South America. This country carries a terrain that is uneven. Most of the interior is steep rugged mountains along with dissected upland plains. The main mountain chains in Panama are the Talamancas and the Serrania Del Dariens. While the interior is very rugged, the coastal area is made up of large plains and rolling hills. The climate of Panama is tropical, consisting of a prolonged rainy season (May to January) and short dry season (January to May). Panama serves as a great place for imports and exports because of different ports in the country including Balboa, Coco Solo, and Cristobal. These important ports help to bring things in and out of the country as needed. The Panama Canal also serves as a very important site of industry because it is the only shortcut through central America by water. Panama is currently susceptible to water pollution from agricultural runoff, deforestation of tropical rain forest, and the possibility of flooding due to torrential rains.

Land use is represented by four main industries. Arable land makes up 7%, permanent crops 2%, permanent pastures 20%, and forested woodland makes up 44% of Panama’s land use. Panama’s main agricultural products include bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables, livestock, and shrimp. A few of these crops are used for exports. Bananas make up 43% of Panama’s exports, shrimp make up 11%, and coffee makes up around 2%.

Geography

Puerto Rico is an island found between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Dominican Republic. It covers a total of 3,515 square miles, which is slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island, and is occupied by approximately 3.9 million people.

The area of Puerto Rico consists mostly of mountains with a coastal plain belt in the north, mountains precipitous to the sea on the west coast, and sandy beaches along most coastal areas. The use of land is divided into arable land (4%), permanent crops (5%), permanent pastures (26%), forests and woodlands (16%), and other uses (49%). The natural resources of the island are copper, nickel, and a potential for onshore and offshore oil.

The climate of Puerto Rico is tropical marine and mild, with little seasonal temperature variation. The climate varies according to elevation and exposure to rain-bearing winds. The south coast is in the rain shadow of the mountains, while northeast trade winds bring heavy rainfall to the north coast. San Juan receives 60 inches of rain, El Yunque Peak farther east receives 180 inches, while Ponce on the south coast receives only 36 inches. Rain falls each month of the year, but the heaviest rainfall occurs between May and December. The 78º F average lowland temperatures feel warmer due to the average daily humidity of 66%. Highland temperatures average about 5º F less, and the annual range between the hottest and coolest months in highlands or lowlands is less than 6º F.

Puerto Rico experiences two types of natural hazards, which are periodic droughts and hurricanes. Ports in Puerto Rico include Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, and its capital, San Juan. Puerto Rico is found in an important location along the Mona Passage, which is a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal. San Juan is also one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean.

Geography

Argentina forms the eastern half of South America’s long, tapering tail. It is the eighth largest country in the world. Its size is approximately three-tenths the size of the United States at approximately 1,068,302 square miles, and has a population of 35.2 million people. It borders Chile to the west, which is separated by the Andean Cordilleras range and Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia to the north and east, separated by rivers. Argentina also borders the South Pacific Ocean and the South Atlantic Ocean.

Argentina comprises a diverse territory of mountains, upland areas, and plains. The western boundaries of the country fall entirely within the Andes, the great mountain system of the South America Continent. Argentina is home of the Aconcagua peak which is the highest mountain in the western hemisphere, with a height of 22,834 feet. The Patagonian Andes, which form a natural boundary between Argentina and Chile, are on of the lesser ranges, seldom exceeding about 12,000 feet in elevation. From the northern extremity of this range to the Bolivian frontier, the main Andean cordillera occupies the western part of Argentina, with a number of peaks above 21,000 feet. Ojos del Salado and Cerro Tupungato are two peaks that border between Argentina and Chile; these peaks are 22,615 feet and 22,310 feet respectively.

Eastward from the base of the Andean system, the terrain of Argentina consists almost entirely of a flat or gently fluctuating plain. This plain slopes gradually from and elevation of about 2000 feet to sea level. In the north the Argentine plains consist of the southern portion of the South American region known as the Gran Chaco. The Pampas, treeless plains that include the most productive agricultural sections of the country, extend about 1000 miles south from the Gran Chaco. In Patagonia, south of the Pampas, the terrain consists largely of arid, desolate steeps.

Temperate climatic conditions prevail throughout most of Argentina, except for a small tropical area in the northeast and the subtropical Chaco in the north. In Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, the average temperature range is 63-85 degrees F in January and 42-57 degrees F in July. In Mendoza, in the foothills of the Andes to the west, the average temperature range is 60-90 degrees F in January and 35-59 degrees F in July. Considerably higher temperatures prevail near the tropic of Capricorn in the north, where extremes as high as 113 degrees F are occasionally recorded. Climatic conditions are generally cold in the higher Andes, Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego. In the western section of Patagonia winter temperatures average about 32 degrees F. In most coastal areas, however, the ocean exerts a moderating influence on temperatures.

Precipitation in Argentina is marked by wide regional variations. More than 60 inches fall annually in the extreme north, but conditions gradually become semiarid to the south and west. In the vicinity of Buenos Aires annual rainfall is about 37 inches. In the vicinity of Mendoza annual rainfall is about 7 inches.

The wealth of the countries natural resources lies in the vast pampas, which are used for extensive grazing and grain production. However, mineral resources especially offshore deposits of petroleum and natural gas have assumed recent importance in recent decades.

Geography

Brazil is in eastern South America consuming almost half of the continent and bordering every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. It is the fifth largest country in the world, only slightly smaller than the United States in area. A majority of its 171 million citizens live near the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Brazil is Brasilia, which is inland unlike great cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

A vast region of highlands, known as the Brazilian Highlands or Brazilian plateau, and the basin of the Amazon River are the dominant physiographic features of Brazil. The plateau is on eroded tableland occupying most of the southeastern half of the country. With a general elevation of about 1000 to 3000 feet, this tableland is irregularly ridged by mountain ranges and dissected by numerous river valleys. Its southeastern edge, generally parallel to the coast, rises abruptly from the ocean in various areas. Among the principal ranges of the Brazilian Highlands are the Serra da Mantiqueira, the Serra do Mar, and the Serra Geral. Elevations in these and the other ranges average less than 4000 feet. Much of the tableland terrain consists of rolling prairies known as the campos, and extensive tracts are forested.

 The basin of the Amazon River occupies more than one-third of the surface of the country. Lowlands predominate in the Amazon Basin; elevations rarely exceed about 500 feet, and swamps and floodplains occupy vast areas of the region. Large parts of the basin are covered by tropical rain forests. The highest peak in Brazil is the Pico da Neblina with a height of 9888 feet, this peak borders with Venezuela.

The Brazilian coastline, with a total length of some 4650 miles, has singularly regular contours, particularly in the north, but several deep indentations provide excellent natural harbors. Especially the harbors of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Recife. Excluding sections in which the Brazilian Highlands projects into the Atlantic Ocean, the coast is fringed by a narrow coastal plain.

The Amazon and Tocantins rivers, about one-fifth by the Rio de la Plata system, and the remainder by the Sao Francisco River and smaller streams, drain more than two-thirds of Brazil. The length of the Amazon from Iquitos, Peru, to its mount on the northeastern coast of Brazil is about 2300 miles all navigable by oceangoing ships. The Sao Francisco and Parnaiba rivers are some of the most important navigable steams in the plateau region. The Sao Francisco is also used for irrigation. Brazil has 17,000 square miles irrigated land. Some of the agricultural products are coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus, and beef. Brazil’s major exports are iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice, footwear, coffee, and motor vehicle parts. Almost 60% of Brazil is covered with forests and woodlands, 22% is in permanent pastures and only 5% in arable land.

Climatic conditions in Brazil range from tropical to sub temperate. The average temperatures range from 72-88 degrees F at the mouth of the Amazon River in both January and July. The average range in Rio de Janeiro on the tropical east coast is 73-84 degrees F in January and 63-75 degrees F in July. Average annual precipitation at the mouth of the Amazon River is 96 inches, and in Rio de Janeiro it is 43 inches. Tropical conditions prevail also over most of that coastal plain lying to the north of the tropic Capricorn, but oceanic winds have a moderating effect on the high temperatures and humidity. The annual rainfall in this part of the coastal belt varies between 40 to 90 inches. In the coastal region south of the tropic Capricorn, climatic conditions are marked by sharp seasonal variations. Winter temperatures as low as 22 degrees F are occasionally recorded in the extreme south, and frosts are common throughout the region. Precipitation averages less than 40 inches annually in the southern part of the coastal belt. In the east central Brazilian uplands the climate is subtropical but, because of higher altitudes, sharp variations in temperatures occur. This region is frequently subject to droughts. In the highlands to the south and west, precipitation ranges from adequate to abundant. Temperatures vary between subtropical and temperate in the southeastern highlands, which is the most densely populated section of the country.

Geography

Chile, republic in South America, bounded on the north by Peru, on the east by Bolivia and Argentina, and on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean. The country stretches from the middle of the continent down to the southern tip where it curves slightly eastward to include Cape Horn, the southernmost point in the Americas. Chile stretches 2,880 miles from north to south, but averages only 110 miles wide, making it about twice the size of California. The country has a total area of 292,258 square miles with a population of approximately 15 million people. Chile also claims a section of Antarctica.

Chile can be divided longitudinally into three topographic zones: the lofty Andean cordillera on the east; the low coastal mountains on the west; and the plateau area, which includes the Central Valley, between these ranges. Latitudinal, three major geographical and climatologically regions can be distinguished: the northern, which is primarily arid; the central, which is Mediterranean, and the southern which has temperatures that are temperate marine regions.

The ranges of the Andes are widest in the northern region, forming broad plateaus and containing many mountains with elevations in excess of 20,000 feet. The country’s highest peak, Ojos del Salado with a height of 22,615 feet, is found on the border with Argentina. The plateau area is occupied by the great Atacama Desert, which contains vast nitrate fields and rich mineral deposits and it is also one of the driest deserts in the world.

In the central region the plateau gives way to a valley, known as the Central Valley, about 600 miles long. The valley, which ranges from 25 to 50 miles in width, is the most heavily populated area of the country. The fertile area between the Aconcagua and Biobio rivers forms the agricultural heartland of Chile. The central Andes are narrower in width and have lower elevations than those in the north. Them most important passes in the Andes are located here. The country’s finest natural harbors are located in the region as well.

The southern region is without an interior valley; it disappears below the sea at Puerto Montt. The peaks of the submerged coastal mountains form the long chains of islands along the coast. Numerous fjords indent the coastline here. The southern Andes have elevation that seldom exceed about 6000 feet. Chile lies in a zone of geological instability and is subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity.

The many rivers of Chile are relatively short, generally rising in the Andes and flowing west to the Pacific. In the northern and central regions primarily the perpetual snow cover of the Andes feeds the rivers. The most important rivers are the Loa, Elqui, Aconcagua, Maipo, Maule, Biobio, and Imperial. Although of limited value for navigation because of cascades, the rivers are vital for the irrigation waters and hydroelectric power they furnish. These rivers have created valleys that are used for raising cattle and fruit production, which has increased greatly since the 1970’s. The Strait of Magellan, located in the far south, is one of the world’s important sea-lanes because it unites the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through a channel that avoids the rough open waters off Cape Horn.

Because of Chile’s great latitudinal range, a variety of diverse climates are found. In general, temperatures are moderated by oceanic influences. In the northern region temperatures are moderated by the offshore presence of the cold Peru, or Humboldt, Current. The average temperatures at Antofagasta range from 63-76 degrees F in January and 51-63 degrees F in July. In Santiago, the capitol of Chile, the temperatures range from 53-85 degrees F in January and 37-59 degrees F in July. Temperatures decrease about 1 degree F for each 275 feet of altitude in the Andes. Rainfall increases southward, and the central region experiences a Mediterranean-like climate. Precipitation here is concentrated in the winter months, May to August, and ranges from and annual total of about 14 inches at Santiago to about .5 inches in Antofagasta. Winters here are mild, and summers are relatively cool. The southern region is cooler and experiences year-round rainfall. Precipitation reaches a maximum of about 20 inches near the Strait of Magellan, much of it in the form of snow. The average annual temperature at Punta Arenas in the far south is about 44 degrees F. Strong winds and cyclonic storms are common in the southern region.