Regions

Regions Regions are areas of the earth’s surface that share unifying characteristics Regions can be defined by physical or cultural characteristics Regional labels may reflect people’s changes in perceptions

Physical Regions Sahara Desert Taiga Rain forest Great Plains Low Countries

Sahara Desert The Sahara Desert is the largest dry desert in the world. It is located in North Africa and has an arid climate.

Taiga The taiga is a coniferous forest located in Siberia, Russia.

Coniferous forest located in Russia and Canada Taiga Coniferous forest located in Russia and Canada

Rain Forest Rain forests are located around the world near the equator in tropical wet climates.

Forests composed of broadleaf trees in tropical areas Rain Forest Forests composed of broadleaf trees in tropical areas

Great Plains The Great Plains is a region in the central U.S. of flat land.

A flat region in the central U.S. Great Plains A flat region in the central U.S.

Low Countries The Low Countries are Belgium and the Netherlands. These countries are low in elevation. Polders are areas of reclaimed land from the sea.

The Netherlands and Belgium are low in elevation The Low Countries The Netherlands and Belgium are low in elevation

Cultural Regions Language Economic Latin America Wheat Belts Francophone World Ethnic Chinatowns Kurdistan Religion Islam Buddhism Economic Wheat Belts European Union Political North Atlantic Treaty Organization African Union

Most people in Latin America speak Spanish Most people in Latin America speak Spanish. People in Brazil speak Portuguese.

The Francophone world is a group of countries or areas where people speak French.

Chinatowns Chinatowns are ethnic neighborhoods, or areas where people of the same ethnicity live. Other examples of ethnic neighborhoods are: Little Saigon in Los Angeles Little Havana in Miami

Kurdistan Kurdistan is an area in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey where Kurdish people live. Kurdish people do not have their own country. An ethnic group without a country is called a stateless nation.

Religions Islam is a major religion in North Africa and the Middle East Buddhism is a major religion in Southeast Asia Hinduism is a major religion in India Most people in Latin America are Roman Catholic

The Wheat Belt is a region in the U.S. where grain is grown.

Wheat Belt

The European Union is an economic union in Europe The European Union is an economic union in Europe. Most countries in Europe are members of the EU.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a group of countries in Europe with the purpose of defending democracy.

The African Union is a political union in Africa The African Union is a political union in Africa. Morocco is the only country in Africa that is not a member.

Middle East The Middle East is also called Southwest Asia

Sun Belt The Sun Belt is a region located in the southern United States The population in this region has grown since the invention of the air conditioner

Rust Belt The Rust Belt is a region in the northeastern United States Heavy industry such as steel and automobile manufacturing was located in this region

Regions of the World (How they are linked or divided)

Essential Understanding Cultural differences can link or divide regions.

Language Arab world - The Arab world is a cultural region that is unified by the Arabic language. This region is found in North Africa and the Middle East.

The Arab World

Language Hispanic America is a region that is unified by language. The major language in this region is Spanish.

Hispanic America

Language Brazil - The major language in Brazil is Portuguese because Brazil was colonized by Portugal.

Language Canada is a good example of a country that is divided by language. In the province of Quebec, Canada there are many people who speak French. The rest of the people in Canada speak English.

Language Switzerland is a good example of a country that has multiple languages but the country is still unified. Some of the languages spoken in Switzerland are: German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, and Italian (official) 6.5%.

Language English as a world language - English is a language that has become an international language of business and finance.

Ethnic Heritage Examples of countries or regions that have experienced ethnic conflict: The Balkans (Former Yugoslavia) Rwanda Cyprus

Balkan Peninsula The Balkan Peninsula has many different ethnic groups such as; Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, and Albanians. The most recent conflict lasted from 1992 - 1995, when Serbia invaded Bosnia. Thousands of Bosniaks were killed by Serbian and Croatian forces.

Balkan Peninsula

Rwanda Rwanda is a small country in East Africa with two major ethnic groups, the Hutu and the Tutsi. In 1994, the Hutu controlled military and militia groups began killing Tutsis. Over a period of three months at least 800,000 Tutsis were murdered.

Cyprus Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean. The country is divided into two countries based on ethnicity. One country is primarily Turkish and the other country is primarily Greek.

Cyprus

Ethnic Heritage Examples of countries or regions that have many ethnic groups but are unified: The United States Switzerland

Switzerland Switzerland has remained unified despite having several ethnic groups. The ethnic groups in Switzerland are as follows: 65% German, 18% French, 10% Italian.

Ethnic Heritage Examples of countries that have a single ethnic group: Korea Japan

Religion (Divisive Force) There are religious conflicts in the following areas: Kashmir (conflict between Hindus and Muslims. Northern Ireland (conflict between Protestants and Catholics) Jerusalem (Jews, Christians, and Muslims all claim it as a holy city)

Kashmir India and Pakistan both claim a region called the Kashmir. Part of the problem is based on religion. Pakistan is a Muslim country and India is Hindu.

Kashmir

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. The country is about evenly divided between Protestants and Catholics. The Protestants want to remain part of the U.K. and the Catholics want to be part of Ireland.

The Peace Wall

Murals in Belfast

Murals in Belfast

Jerusalem Christians consider Jerusalem to be holy because Jesus was crucified there. Jews consider Jerusalem to be holy because there temple was located there. Muslims consider Jerusalem to be holy because Muhammed ascended to heaven there and received the word of Allah.

Dome of the Rock

Western Wall