The Handy Geography Answer Book

Paul A Tucci

Description

The world, its people, its countries, its history, the maps, and more!

Geography is more than just maps and finding your destination. It is about the land, the people on that land, the delicate balance of nature, and our very interdependence upon it, despite the miracles of technology and grocery stores. It’s about the effects of nature on places and people, as well as how politics, borders, cities, and towns affect our lives. The Handy Geography Answer Book traces the history of geography from Eratosthenes and Alexander von Humboldt to latitude and longitude, folding maps, and the latest advances in the Global Positioning System (GPS). It provides insights into economic, social, historic, culture, religious, political, and climate geography, plus oceanography, demographics, and more.

Completely revised and updated, The Handy Geography Answer Book tours the world, its natural features, and the ever-changing mark humans make on our planet. It answers 1,200 questions on today’s world, from the trivia (longest, hottest, tallest) to how geography has influenced history, religion, architecture, and the location of cities. You’ll learn answers to such questions as . . .

Why is every two-dimensional map distorted?

What new epoch has recently been proposed by Nobel Prize winner Paul Crutzen?

Who first had the idea that there is a magnetic North Pole?

What is interesting about Google’s “Streetview”?

How does GPS work?

When will we run out of oil?

How many people are projected to live on the planet in 2050?

What are the largest metropolitan areas in the United States?

How many miles of paved road are there in the United States?

Which state has the highest annual divorce rate?

What are the largest and smallest counties in the United States?

What’s the difference between England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom?

How is China changing our map of the world?

What is ISIS/ISIL?

Of all 54 countries in Africa, which ones were never colonized?

Who owns Antarctica?

Numerous maps, photos, and illustrations bring the text to life. With an appendix detailing the history, people, government, economy, climate, geography, and other statistics for each of the more than 250 countries of the world, this is the ideal resource for anyone interested in learning about our planet. The Handy Geography Answer Book also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness.

Sujets

• Historical Geography
• Histoire
• History

Informations

• Publié par: Visible Ink Press
• Date de parution: 18 juillet 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781578596256
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

THE HANDY GEOGRAPHY ANSWER BOOK
Copyright 2017 by Visible Ink Press
This publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competition, and other applicable laws.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or website.
All rights to this publication will be vigorously defended.
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Rd., #414
Canton, MI 48187-2075
Visible Ink Press is a registered trademark of Visible Ink Press LLC.
Most Visible Ink Press books are available at special quantity discounts when purchased in bulk by corporations, organizations, or groups. Customized printings, special imprints, messages, and excerpts can be produced to meet your needs. For more information, contact Special Markets Director, Visible Ink Press, www.visibleinkpress.com , or 734-667-3211.
Managing Editor: Kevin S. Hile
Art Director: Mary Claire Krzewinski
Typesetting: Marco DiVita
Proofreaders: Larry Baker and Shoshana Hurwitz
Indexer: Shoshana Hurwitz
Cover images: Image of oil pump, Eric Kounce; all other images, Shutterstock.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Tucci, Paul A., 1962- author.
Title: The handy geography answer book / Paul A. Tucci.
Description: Third edition. | New York: Visible Ink Press, [2017] |Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016019256 (print) | LCCN 2016017255 (ebook) | ISBN 9781578596256 (Pdf)
Subjects: LCSH: Geography--Miscellanea. | BISAC: SCIENCE / Earth Sciences / Geography.
Classification: LCC G131 (print) | LCC G131 .T83 2017 (ebook) | DDC 910-dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016019256

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About the Author

Paul A. Tucci is an author of several books for Visible Ink Press, including The Handy Geography Answer Book (2nd edition), The Handy Personal Finance Answer Book, and The Handy Investing Answer Book. Over the course of his career, he has authored information industry articles and has frequently lectured on international management at such institutions as Northwestern University, the University of Michigan, INSEAD, New York University, and Oakland University. He also serves on the board of a philanthropic organization and several privately held companies. As a former Global Publishing executive, he has managed, travelled, and conducted business throughout the world. Tucci brings all this experience and inspiration to this book. He resides in Michigan.
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Contents

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS
P HOTO S OURCES
I NTRODUCTION
DEFINING THE WORLD
Definitions and History
The Earth
Continents and Islands
Human Civilization
People and Countries
MAPS
History and Instruments
Latitude and Longitude
Reading and Using Maps
Modern Mapping
THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
The Earth s Materials and Internal Processes
Natural Resources
Landscapes and Ecosystems
Asteroids and Near Earth Objects
WATER AND ICE
High, Low, Big, Small, and Wondrous
Oceans and Seas
Rivers and Lakes
Precipitation
Glaciers and Fjords
Controlling Water
CLIMATE
Definitions
The Atmosphere
Ozone
Climate Trends
Weather
Wind
HAZARDS AND DISASTERS
Volcanoes
Earthquakes
Tsunamis
Hurricanes
Floods
Tornadoes
Lightning
Other Hazards and Disasters
TRANSPORTATION AND URBAN GEOGRAPHY
Cities and Suburbs
Urban Structures
Air Transportation
Roads and Railways
Sea Transportation
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
Colonies and Expansionism
The United Nations
NATO and the Cold War
The World Today
The World Economy
CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
Population
Language and Religion
Dealing with Hazards
Cultures around the World
TIME, CALENDARS, AND SEASONS
Time Zones
Daylight Saving Time
Keeping Time
Calendars
The Seasons
EXPLORATION
Europe and Asia
Africa
The New World
The Poles
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Physical Features and Resources
The States
Cities and Counties
People and Culture
History
NORTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN
Canada
Greenland and the North Pole Region
Mexico
Central America
Caribbean
SOUTH AMERICA
Physical Features and Resources
History
People, Countries, and Cities
WESTERN EUROPE
History
People, Countries, and Cities
RUSSIA AND EASTERN EUROPE
Russia and the Former Soviet States
Eastern Europe
ASIA
China and East Asia
Japan and the Korean Peninsula
Southeast Asia
India and West Asia
THE MIDDLE EAST
The Land and Its History
Religion
People, Countries, and Cities
AFRICA
Physical Features and Resources
History
People, Countries, and Cities
OCEANIA AND ANTARCTICA
Oceania
Australia
New Zealand
Antarctica
C OUNTRIES OF THE W ORLD
F URTHER R EADING
G LOSSARY
Acknowledgments

I wish to thank the following people whose great efforts help create this book: proofreaders Larry Baker and Shoshana Hurwitz (who also indexed this book), page and cover designer Mary Claire Krzewinski, typesetter Marco DiVita. Also, thanks to Matthew Rosenberg, who created the original first edition of this book many years ago. I also wish to thank the Visible Ink Editor Kevin Hile and Visible Ink Publisher Roger J necke for making this book possible.
Thank you also to my family and friends who encouraged me for over one year to write this book.
Photo Sources

Aamsse (Wikicommons): p. 190.
Amerikanisches Aussenministerium: p. 209.
Cavit (Wikicommons): p. 23.
CherryX (Wikicommons): p. 217.
CIA: p. 256.
Continentalis (Wikicommons): p. 154.
Glenmary Research Center: p. 177.
Hile, Kevin: p. 105.
Hosseini, Mahmoud: p. 269.
Kmusser (Wikicommons): p. 49.
Mareklug (Wikicommons): p. 167.
Maslowski, Wieslaw, at the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California: p. 187.
Mutxamel (Wikicommons): p. 215.
NASA: pp. 45, 75, 245.
National Archives and Records Administration: p. 90.
National Maritime Museum: p. 289.
National Park Service: p. 185.
NOAA: p. 93.
Shutterstock: pp. 4, 7, 9, 14, 21, 25, 27, 29, 31, 37, 38, 41, 44, 51, 54, 57, 58, 61, 64, 67, 69, 73, 78, 81, 86, 88, 97, 99, 108, 113, 116, 120, 133, 138, 143, 146, 148, 151, 157, 164, 171, 173, 175, 197