Geography Ms. Moran

SWBAT: Identify the different continents and oceans by labeling them on a map. Identify the different geographic barriers which exist on these continents through the use of maps and readings. Analyze and predict how these geographic features affected the development of different nations.

Continents North America South America Europe Asia Africa Antarctica Australia

Oceans Pacific Indian Atlantic Antarctic

North America Bordered by 3 Oceans Pacific, Atlantic, and the Artic. South Of Mexico is called Central America and is connected to South America.

South America Surrounded by two Oceans the Atlantic and Pacific, and is connected to Central America. Located near the equator making it very warm. The most important river in the region is the Amazon and is the second largest river in the world. The Amazon is also the largest rainforest in the world. The Andes Mountains runs along the Western side of South America and they are among some of the largest mountains in the world.

Asia The largest continent Geographers divided this continent into six areas: The Middle East, North Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The Middle East is located in Southwest Asia and has been called the “crossroads of three continents” because it connects Asia, Africa and part of the Middle East. The climate is very hot and much of the area is considered to be desert and lacks bodies of water. Northern Asia contains the world’s largest country in terms of area, Russia. Russia stretches from Eastern Europe to the Pacific Ocean. Siberia is in Northeastern Russia and is known as a tundra because the ground is frozen most of the year. To the South Russia is landlocked (access to the sea is blocked by other countries). Due to Russia being isolated from other countries it’s culture developed independently. Central Asia is the area South of Russia, North of Iran, India and China made up of mostly deserts, and treeless grasslands called steppes. Central Asia has long been a crossroads for overland trade routes among China, India, the Middle East and Europe

Asia continued East Asia contains three countries: China, Korea, and Japan. China is the world’s third largest country, and the most populous. China has been isolated due to natural barriers such as the Himalayan, and Kunlun Mountains, and the Gobi Desert. Korea is a peninsula that extends from China, Korea has been invaded by both China and Japan because it is located in between nations. Japan is a nation made up of thousands of small mountainous islands called archipelago which is located in the Sea of Japan east of Asia. Due to its geography Japan lacks many natural resources and therefore must acquire them from other nations. South Asia is a subcontinent ( large piece of land smaller than a subcontinent). This subcontinent contains India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and several other smaller nations. Southeast Asia is a large peninsula along with several islands which include the countries of Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. This area is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans and have been influenced by many different cultures due to trade routes. Much of the region is made up of Rain Forests.

Africa Second largest continent that is mostly a plateau (level land raised by adjoining land) with a narrow coastline. Divided into two regions: North Africa, and Sub- Saharan Africa. North Africa’s climate is warm and dry. The Mediterranean sea lies to the North. This area has the longest river called the Nile River as well as the largest desert called the Sahara. All of these have acted as natural barriers and allowed different cultures to develop. Sub-Saharan means below (south) the Sahara desert. A large part of this land is made up of tall wild grasses called the savanna. East Africa contains the Great Rift Valley; Central and Southern Africa is mostly tropical rain forest.

Europe Europe and Asia share the same land mass but it is so large that geographers have divided it into two continents. The dividing line between Europe and Asia runs through the center of Russia along the Ural Mountains. Europe also has two sets of mountain ranges, the Alps, and the Pyreness which have separated people causing them to develop different cultures.

Your Turn! Using the information you just learned try and solve all of the puzzles! Do your best make sure to use your notes, we will be going over the answers together when everyone has finished.

Video Basic Geography