1
Introduction
This book has been created to help students research different regions of the world. It is very important to know information about the country that we live in, but it is just as important to understand our neighbors and what makes us different. No two countries are the same in size, shape, population, or culture. Each of these things make a country special.
I hope that you enjoy studying the different regions of the world with this book.
Ms. Samantha McSparrinVolunteer English Teacher
Peam Chikang High School2010-2012
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General World Information
There are 7 continents around the world. These include Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
There are 5 oceans in the world. These include the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic Oceans.
There are currently 196 countries in the world and 192 countries are members of the United Nations (an international organization for law, peace and security).
There are about 7 billion people living in the world.
The largest population is in China, followed by India and the United States of America.
The smallest population is in the Vatican City.
The largest country in the world (land area) is Russia.
The smallest country in the world (land area) is the Vatican City.
The top 3 languages with the most native speakers are Mandarin (Chinese), Spanish, and English.
Several places in the world are going to disappear because of global warming, pollution, and changes in the water level. The sites include Glacier National Park (USA), Venice, Italy, the Dead Sea (near Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan), and Mexico City, Mexico.
The newest country in the world is South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011.
Christianity is the most common religion in the world with 2.1 billion followers, which equals 33% of the world population. This is followed by Islam with 1.5 billion (21%), Hinduism with 900 million (14%), Buddhism with 376 million (6%), Sikhism with 23 million (0.36%) and Judaism with 14 million (0.22%).
ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
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ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
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General Information
Southeast Asia is a sub region of Asia that is south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia.
Not all countries in Southeast Asia are members of ASEAN. East Timor, Christmas Island, Hong Kong, Macau and some of the islands off of the coast of India do not have membership in the association.
The total population of ASEAN members is approximately 593,000,000.
The total area of ASEAN members totals approximately 5,000,000 km2.
Islam is the most commonly practiced religion in the region, followed by Christianity and Hinduism.
There are many volcanoes in the region because of the geological plates. Many of these are still active.
Many of the countries in Southeast Asia are made of groups of small islands. These islands have been formed after volcanoes erupt and leave lava which hardens and forms land.
The climate is mostly tropical. It is hot and humid during most of the year and there is a lot of rainfall. There is a hot and cool season, as well as a monsoon season.
There are hundreds, possibly thousands of different languages spoken in Southeast Asia. Minority groups within each country often have their own languages, such as the Cham in Cambodia. Many of these languages are only spoken and have no system of writing.
Just like other areas of the world, Southeast Asia has had many wars and a lot of violence in recent history. Many countries were affected by World War II and the Vietnam War. Many countries have also have problems within the country, such as in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge and the civil war in Burma that began in 1948.
ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
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Flags of Member Nations
Indonesia
Malaysia
The Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Brunei
Vietnam
Laos
Myanmar
Cambodia
6
ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Overview
ESTABLISHMENT
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, who were Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Brunei then joined on 7 January 1984, Vietnam on 28 July 1995, Laos and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.
AIMS AND PURPOSES
As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:
1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavors in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations;
2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter;
3. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;
4. To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;
5. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilization of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;
6. To promote Southeast Asian studies; and7. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and
regional organizations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves.
Information from:http://www.aseansec.org/about_ASEAN.html
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Brunei Darussalam
Official Name: State of Brunei Darussalem or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace
Head of State: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin
Head of Government : Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah
Capital City: Bandar Seri Begawan
Other major cities: Sengkurong, Gadong, Berakas
Language(s): Malay, English
Currency: Bruneian Dollar (1.3 BND = $1 USD)
Religion: Islam (66%), Buddhism, Christianity
Land area: 5,765 km2
Population: 401,890
Bordering country: Malaysia
Tourist Attractions: Royal Regalia Museum, Omar, Ali, Saifuddien and Mosque, Ulu
Temburong National Park
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Recent History:
Brunei became a protectorate of Britain in 1888, after it had been having trouble
and losing some land to other countries. During World War II (1941-1945), the
Japanese Empire took control. After the war, the United Kingdom was in control of the
country again. In 1959, a new constitution was written that let the people of Brunei be in
control of their business domestically, while the United Kingdom was still in control of
Brunei’s foreign affairs, security and defense internationally. In 1984, Brunei gained its
independence and took control of both domestic and international affairs. Today it is an
absolute monarchy with a sultan (ruler of an Islamic country) as leader.
In 1962, there was a small group of people who wanted to fight against the
monarchy. The United Kingdom helped to stop this fighting, which was called the
“Brunei Revolt”. The fighting caused problems with other countries on the island of
Borneo, and was partially responsible for the failure to create the North Borneo
Federation.
This country has had a lot of economic growth. Brunei is now considered to be
an industrialized (developed) country. It is considered to have the second highest
development rating in Southeast Asia, after Singapore who is number one. It also has
very good rating from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This country is very
strong and is able to buy very many things.
The current sultan of Brunei, Sultan Bolkiah, was crowned in 1967 when he was
only 22 years old. This family has been in power for many generations. The sultan
became very wealthy for selling an oil field. Brunei is a very rich country, and the sultan
is believed to be one of the richest men in the world.
9
Cambodia
Official Name: The Kingdom of Cambodia
Head of State: His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hun Sen
Capital City: Phnom Penh
Other major cities: Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang, Kampong Cham
Language: Khmer
Currency: Riel (4100 riel = $1 USD)
Religion: Theravada Buddhism (97%), Islam, Christianity
Land area: 181, 035 km2
Population: 14 million
Bordering countries: Vietnam, Thailand and Laos
Tourist Attractions: Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, National Museum, Royal Palace, Killing
Fields, Beaches, Eco-Tourism
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Recent history:
King Norodom asked for protection from the French in 1863 because of problems
with Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia became a part of French Indochina and was
also occupied by the Japanese Empire from 1941-1945 during World War II. Cambodia
gained full independence from France in 1953.
Fighting between the Vietnam and Cambodia resulted in bombing and many
Cambodians becoming refugees. During this time there were very few resources in
Cambodia, little money, and not enough food for the people. The Khmer Rouge came
into power in 1975 and claimed to want to solve these problems. This regime was
officially called Democratic Kampuchea and was led by Pol Pot. The cities were
immediately evacuated and the people were made to become rice farmers and go back
to the lifestyle of the 11th century. They did not allow Western medicine, religion,
education or any Western influence during this time. At least 1 million Cambodians died
because of lack of food, lack of medicine, overwork and execution, but there may have
been many more people who died during the regime. In November 1978, Vietnamese
troops invaded Cambodia because the Khmer Rouge had caused problems at the
border. During the 1980s, the Khmer Rouge stayed in power in Cambodia with support
from China, Thailand, The United States and The United Kingdom. The Khmer Rouge
controlled the country and made attacks to places where they were not in control.
These attacks left a lot of damage in Cambodia and made the financial problems even
worse for the country. Peace efforts began in 1989 and finally resulted in 1991 when
the United Nations came to Cambodia. In 1993, King Norodom Sihanouk was restored
as king of Cambodia. This is the only country which has had a king who returned to
power after a communist regime.
Trials are currently happening for the leaders of the Khmer Rouge. Kang Kek
Lew (known as Duch) was the first member of the group that was found guilty of war
crimes and crimes against humanity. He was the leader of the S21 extermination camp
in Phnom Penh. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The trials for three other
members, Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary, began in November 2011. Pol
Pot passed away in 1998 before he was ever tried or punished for any crimes.
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Indonesia
Official Name: Republic of Indonesia
Head of State: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Capital City: Jakarta
Other major cities: Surabaya, Bandung, Bali
Language: Indonesian
Currency: Rupiah (9,075 IDR = $1 USD)
Religion: Islam (87%), Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism
Land area: 1,919,440 km2
Population: 437,424,363
Bordering countries: Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Malaysia
Tourist Attractions: Beach resorts of Bali and Lombok, crater lakes in Kelimutu and
Danua Toba, monument to Buddha in Borobudur
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Recent history:
Foreign powers have been attracted to the many natural resources on the islands
of Indonesia for centuries. Muslims came to the Indonesia and brought the religion on
Islam. Later Europeans came and introduced Christianity. The Dutch arrived in the
early 1600s and established the Dutch East Indies. They were in power for over 3
centuries.
During the National Revolution, the Indonesians fought for their independence.
They were occupied they the Japanese Empire during World War II, when an estimated
4 million Indonesians died because of starvation and forced labor. After the war, the
Dutch tried to regain control, but they were not successful and Indonesia finally gained
their independence in 1949.
The communist party in Indonesia was blamed for trying to overthrow the state in
1965. During this time, approximately 500,000 people were killed. The military stopped
the communists and the country formed a “New Order” to help control the situation.
Indonesia suffered very much during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s.
People were very unhappy with the government and blamed the problems on the “New
Order”. These problems caused the military leader, General Suharto, to resign in 1998.
After that, East Timor decided to secede from Indonesia and stop the 25 year military
occupation. Since that time, Indonesia has focused on strengthening the democratic
process. There have been problems with political and economic stability, social unrest,
corruption and terrorism. The many different religious, social and ethnic groups do not
usually have problems, but occasionally there are disagreements which lead to
violence. Things have been better recently and the country was able to have the first
direct presidential election in 2004.
The country is made up of about 17,508 islands. These often suffer from storms
and earthquakes. Heavy rains sometimes cause landslides which have killed many
people. There are also many volcanoes that are active on the islands
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Laos
Official Name: Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Head of State: President Choummaly Sayasone
Head of Government: Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong
Capital City: Vientiane
Other major cities: Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse
Language: Lao
Currency: Kip (7,965 LAK = $1 USD)
Religion: Theravada Buddhism (67%), Christianity, Islam
Land area: 236,800 km2
Population: 6.8 million
Bordering countries: Burma, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand
Tourist Attractions: Luang Prabang, temples in Vientiane, trekking and visiting hill tribes
14
Recent history:
This country once consisted of 3 kingdoms: the Kingdom of Luang Prabang, the
Kingdom of Vientiane, and the Kingdom of Champasak. In 1893, it became a French
protectorate and came together to form what we now call Laos. Like many other
countries in Southeast Asia, it was occupied the Japanese Empire during World War II
(1941-1945). For a short time after the war, Laos became independent, but they were
soon controlled by the French again. They became independent in 1954 with a
constitutional monarchy.
Not long after Laos gained its independence, a long civil war ended the
monarchy and the communist party took control of the country. The northern part of
Laos became involved with the northern Vietnamese and allowed them to use land and
weapons to attack South Vietnam during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). At that time,
the United States was supporting South Vietnam and helped to bomb Laos and invade
the country to attack the communists. Laos is thought to be the most heavily bombed
country in the world, and many Laotians died as a result of these weapons. These
problems caused a civil war in Laos. The Pathet Lao (a communist political group), with
support from the Vietnam People’s Army and the Soviet Union, took control in 1975.
Laos is now a socialist republic.
Laos is very important for providing electricity to its neighboring countries such as
Thailand, China, and Vietnam. The country’s economy is also growing because of the
growing need for its metals.
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Malaysia
Official Name: Malaysia
Head of State: Mazan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu
Head of Government: Najib Razak
Capital City: Kuala Lumpur
Other major cities: Subang Jaya, Klang, Johor Bahru
Language(s): Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil
Currency: Ringgit (3.16 MYR = $1 USD)
Religion: Islam (61%), Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism
Land area: 329,847 km2
Population: 28,334,135
Bordering countries: Thailand, Brunei, and Indonesia
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Tourist Attractions: Islands groups of Pulau Langkawi and Palau Perhentian, night
market in Kota Bharu, and tea plantations in Cameron Highlands
Recent history:
Malaysia was a colony of Britain until 1957. The country became independent,
but there were still many challenges for them to manage. They had to decide which of
the territories would become a part of the new state of Malaysia. In 1961, Sabah,
Sarawak and Singapore joined Malaysia to make up a new federal union. In 1965,
Singapore peacefully decided to leave the union. Because Malaysia was growing,
Indonesia’s president decided to attack parts of Malaysia on the island of Borneo and
on the peninsula. Indonesia was unsuccessful though.
Malaysia also had problems because there were many people from different
races and cultures. It was difficult for the country to decide what a national identity
would be. The majority of the population was Malay and they had a lot of power in the
government. Malay was the national language and Islam became the national religion.
The Chinese were very powerful in business and trading and the Malay people were
suffering financially. The government (which was controlled by the United Malay
National Organization) passed a new law that would help the Malay people to have
better opportunities and give them an advantage over the Chinese. The Chinese were
not happy about the new situation, so they created a new government party to oppose
the Malay. In 1969, there were riots in Kuala Lumpur because they two parties were
still fighting. Malaysia was in a state of emergency for two years. This was a bad time
for the country and many people try to forget about it.
Malaysia has become very powerful in the last 20 years. The country has grown
very much and now has very good race relations. Many people think that the leader,
Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohammed was very important in helping the country grow
between 1981 and 2003.
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Myanmar (Burma)
Official Name: Republic of the Union of
Myanmar
Head of State: President Thein Sein
Capital City: Nay Pyi Taw
Other major cities: Rangoon, Mandalay,
Mawlamyine
Language: Burmese
Currency: Kyat (6.14 MK = $1 USD)
Religion: Buddhism (89%), Christianity,
Islam
Land area: 676,578 km2
Population: 60,280,000
Bordering countries: China, Laos,
Thailand, Bangladesh, and India
Tourist Attractions: Buddhist temples in
Bagan, Inle Lake, the old city of
Mandalay, trekking
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Recent history:
During the Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) and the years that followed, the
British East India Company took control of the country of Burma. In 1886, Burma
became a part of India, then is became a separate colony in 1937. During World War II,
Burma was a very important country for supplying goods to China. The Japanese
Empire came into the country by December 1941 and by May 1942 they were in control
of the country. Other countries came in to help Burma remove the Japanese at the end
of the war in 1945.
Burma became an independent country in 1948. In 1962, there were problems
with politics and the constitution was suspended. The group who took over wanted a
“Burmese way of socialism”. The problems continued for 25 years, which caused
economic problems for the country. In 1987 and 1988, the people of Burma began to
demand a change but the government would not let them speak up. In 1989, the
military government officially changed the name of the country to Myanmar.
During the 1990s, different government parties continued to fight and argue over
who would take control of the country. Many were protesting, but this caused some
people to be arrested or go into hiding. During this time, the people were repressed and
life was very difficult.
There are problems with disagreements between ethnic groups, bad finances,
bombings and corruption. The country has been fighting against drugs, a lack of
university education and the AIDS epidemic. The military has been known to attack
citizens who are protesting against the government, even shooting people in crowds
and arresting Buddhist monks. Many people have died, many are homeless, and others
have been held in prison because of their political beliefs. It is difficult for foreigners to
enter the country, even if they are trying to help development.
In October 2010, the country had the first elections in 20 years. The previous
leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, (who was detained because of her political beliefs) was
finally released. She asked the people to have a “peaceful revolution”. Now the country
is considered to be democratic. The new government began meeting in January 2011.
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The Philippines
Official Name:
The Republic of the Philippines
Head of State:
President Benigno S. Aquino III
Capital City: Manila
Other major cities: Quezon City,
Caloocan, Davoa City
Language(s): Filipino, English, Spanish
Currency: Peso (43 PHP = $1 USD)
Religion: Christianity (90%), Islam
Land area: 299,764 km2
Population: 94,013,200
Bordering Countries: none
Tourist Attractions: Islands and
beaches, trekking in Banaue and
Rice Terraces, Cordillera
Mountains
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Recent history:
During the 1800s, the Philippines were a Spanish colony. In 1898, the Spanish-
American War began in Cuba and moved to the Philippines. The president claimed
independence from Spain at that time and created the First Philippine Republic.
Because of the war at that time, the islands were given from Spain to the United States.
The United States did not recognize the First Philippine Republic and wanted to keep
control, which caused the Philippine-American War. America was in control until World
War II (1941) when the Japanese Empire invaded the islands. This was a very difficult
time and many war crimes were committed. The allies (China, France, the United
States, the United Kingdom and others) came to the Philippines and stopped the
Japanese. About 1 million Philippine people died during this time.
The Philippines finally got its independence on July 4, 1946. They had many
problems at that time because they were trying to recover from the war. In 1965,
Ferdinand Marcos was elected president. He served a second term as president, but
was not allowed to serve a third. He declared martial law, which means that he took
control by himself without permission from the government. Because of the other
problems in the country at the time, he was able to keep control until 1983. There was
another election in 1986 and Marcos won, but many people were not happy about this
and he eventually had to leave the country. Corazon Aquino was recognized as
president.
After 1986, the country had problems with national debt, government corruption,
people who wanted to take control and problems with different religions. The economy
is now improving and the Philippines is growing and developing.
Singapore21
Official Name: The Republic of Singapore
Head of State: President Tony Tan Keng Yam
Head of Government: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Capital City: Singapore
Other major cities: none
Language(s): English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
Currency: Singapore Dollar (1.3 SGD = $1 USD)
Religion: Buddhism (33%), Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Hinduism
Land area: 694 km2
Population: 5,183,700
Bordering countries: Malaysia and Indonesia
Tourist Attractions: Asian Civilizations Museum, Little India, Singapore Zoo/ night safari
Recent history:
22
In 1819, Thomas Raffles arrived in Singapore to develop a trading post with the
British East India Company. Five years later, the entire island became a British colony.
When Raffles first arrived in Singapore, there were only 1,000 people there. After 50
years, there were more than 100,000 people because of immigration.
During World War II (1941-1945), Singapore was invaded by the Japanese
Empire. They did not want to give up their land, so they fought the Battle of Singapore.
The British were defeated and the Japanese took the land in February 1942. The Prime
Minister of Britain, Winston Churchill, called this “the worst disaster and largest
capitulation in British history.” There was also a massacre of ethnic Chinese in
Singapore, during which time 5,000 to 25,000 were killed. The Japanese were on the
island until the war ended in 1945 and Britain took back the land.
Singapore had their first elections in 1955. The leaders wanted complete control
but the British would not allow it. The new leader convinced Britain to let Singapore
control their own government, but Britain was in control of defense and foreign affairs.
In 1963, Singapore declared independence from Britain. They joined the new
Federation of Malaysia, but soon after decided to leave the group. In 1965, the country
became the Republic of Singapore.
In 1967, Singapore helped to create the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
It now has a very strong economy and is a very important country for trade, health care,
and education in the region.
Thailand
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Official Name: The Kingdom of Thailand
Head of State: His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Head of Government: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
Capital City: Bangkok
Other major cities: Nakhon, Muneang, Tambon
Language: Thai
Currency: Baht (31 TBH = $1 USD)
Religion: Theravada Buddhism (95%), Islam, Christianity
Land area: 513,120 km2
Population: 66,720,153
Bordering countries: Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia
Tourist Attractions: Beaches and islands, trekking in Pai, Kao Sok National Park, Phuket
Recent history:
24
Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia which has never been colonized
by another country. There have been many good rulers during the past 400 years
which have been strong enough to prevent the French or British from taking control of
the country. There has been some land that was traded back and forth between
Thailand and Cambodia, and they lost some of the land in the south to Malaysia.
In 1932, there was a revolution because the people wanted to have a constitution
and end the centuries of having an absolute monarchy. A few years later during World
War II, the Japanese Empire demanded to move their military across Thailand. This
caused fighting between the Japanese and Thai armies, but shortly after the fighting
stopped and the soldiers were allowed to cross the country. Because of this, Japan
helped Thailand get some land back from France and Britain. Thailand joined the war
against the United States and the United Kingdom in 1942 to help Japan. After the war,
Thailand once again became a friend of the United States.
The 1997 Constitution was the first to be written by people who were elected,
rather than people who were chosen by the leader. This set up a more honest system
of government and allows the people better representation. The 2001 election was
considered to be the most open and corruption free election in Thai history. Even
though things seemed to be going well, the military still came in and took control of the
government. There were many different leaders over the next several years because of
scandals and corruption.
In April 2010, there were protests by the “Red Shirt” group who opposed the
government. During this time, 87 people died and 1,378 were injured. The army was
shooting the crowds and using bombs.
Since the most recent election on July 3, 2011, the fighting has stopped within
the government. There has been some fighting though with their neighbors, Cambodia,
because both sides want to take control of Preah Vihear Temple on the border.
Vietnam25
Official Name: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Head of State: President Nguyen Minh Triet
Head of Government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
Capital City: Ha Noi
Other major cities: Ho Chi Minh, Hai Phong, Can Tho
Language: Vietnamese
Currency: Dong (21,000 VND = $1 USD)
Religion: Buddhism (85%), Christianity
Land area: 331,698 km2
Population: 90,549,390
Bordering countries: China, Laos and Cambodia
Tourist Attractions: Halong Bay, beach at Nha Trang, historic town of Hoi An, Phong
Nha Cave
Recent history:
26
Vietnam was a part of French Indochina after 1985. The French made a lot of
political and cultural changes to the Vietnamese, including religion and trade. They
were in control until World War II (1941-1945) when the Japanese Empire invaded the
country. Life was very difficult during this time, and approximately 2 million Vietnamese
died because there was not enough food.
During the war, a communist group developed who wanted to get independence
from France and Japan. At the end of the war in 1945, the group (called Viet Minh) took
control of Hanoi and claimed independence. The French tried to return, but this time
the Vietnamese fought back. This was called the First Indochina War and it lasted until
1954. The Vietnamese communist leader, Ho Chi Minh, made negotiations with France
to stop the fighting, and the country became divided between the north and south.
Soon after, many northern Vietnamese moved south because they were afraid of the
communist government.
In the north, guerrilla fighters tried to take control of the government. Many
people were killed or did not have enough food. The south also had many problems.
The leaders there banned communism and supported the Catholic religion. Many
people died during this time, and the United States stopped supporting the South
Vietnam. Several military groups tried to take control, but they were all very short and
unstable. That allowed the North Vietnamese to move in. The United States military
began to help the south to keep the communists out. In 1965, there were 500,000
American soldiers in Vietnam. North Vietnam used a route called the Ho Chi Minh Trail
(which passed through Laos and Cambodia) to get to South Vietnam. The United
States bombed parts of Laos and Cambodia to stop the spread of communism. In
1973, America sent soldiers back home because so many were dying and the rest of
the world did not like the war and what was happening to Vietnam. Some fighting
continued, and the North Vietnamese took control of parts of the south. In 1976, the
north and south came together to become the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
In 1978, the Vietnamese military invaded Cambodia to stop the Khmer Rouge.
The Khmer Rouge had caused genocide in Cambodia but had also attacked many
villages on the Vietnam border. They stayed in Cambodia until 1989.
27
Africa
28
List of Countries in Africa
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
Cote d’Ivoire
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
The Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea- Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
regions because they are at the border of two
geographical or cultural areas.**
29
General Information about Africa
Africa is the second largest continent with the second largest population, after Asia.
Most scientists believe that the earliest humans came from this area, particularly in
eastern Africa near Ethiopia. They have found evidence of human life from
approximately 200,000 years ago. During the 1800-1900s, many European countries
colonized parts of Africa. Since African countries have gained their independence,
there have been problems with instability, corruption, violence and authoritarian leaders.
Most countries in Africa now have a presidential system of government.
Population: 1,022,234,000 (about 14.72% of the world’s total population)
Area: 30,221,532 km2 (20.4% of the world’s total land area)
Languages: There are approximately 2000 different languages spoken in Africa. It is
the most multilingual continent in the world.
Religions: Islam and Christianity are two major religions, but there are also many
traditional African religions.
Climate: Africa is situated on the equator and is the only continent to stretch from both
the northern temperate climate to the southern temperate climate. It is the hottest
continent on Earth. There are many different climates including tropical and subarctic
areas, jungles and deserts.
Largest Country: Algeria
Smallest Country: Seychelles
Economy: Even though Africa has many natural resources, it is still the poorest and
least developed continent in the world. This could be because of the many diseases
(including malaria and HIV/AIDS), government corruption and illiteracy that make it
difficult for people to improve their standard of living.
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31
List of Countries in Asia
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Cyprus
Georgia
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
The Philippines
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syria
Taiwan (territory of China)
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor Leste
Turkey
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
regions because they are at the border of two
geographical or cultural areas.**
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General Information about Asia
Asia is the world’s largest and most populated continent. Because Asia is so large,
there are many different cultures, ethnic groups, climates and historical records. There
are several mountain ranges on the continent, especially in the east. The top 10 tallest
mountains in the world are located in Asia.
Population: 3,879,000,000 (about 60% of the world’s total population)
Area: 44,579,000 km2 (30% of the world’s total land area)
Languages: Most countries in Asia have more than one language. For example,
Indonesia has approximately 600 spoken languages and there are about 800 in India.
Religions: There are many different religions and philosophical beliefs in Asia.
Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity are popular religions. Jainism, Taoism,
Confucianism and Sikhism and Animism are also practiced in some regions.
Climate: Because Asia is so large, there are many different climates. Some of the
hottest and coldest places in the world are located there. The north and the mountains
in the east are very cold. The south is tropical and there are monsoons during much of
the year.
Largest Country: Russia
Smallest Country: Maldives
Economy: Asia has the second largest gross domestic product (GDP) after Europe.
The largest economies are in China, Japan, India, South Korea and Indonesia. There
are many mineral-rich countries in western Asia. East and Southeast Asia are
important for manufacturing.
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Antarctica
34
General Information about Antarctica
Antarctica is the world’s southernmost continent, located around the South Pole. About
98% of the continent is covered in a layer of ice that is about 1.6 kilometers thick. There
are no people who live in Antarctica permanently, only researchers and scientists who
go there to study. Only plants and animals which are able to survive in the extremely
cold weather live on the continent.
Population: There are no permanent residents, but approximately 1,000 people are
there doing research in the winter and 5,000 in the summer. Most people only stay
there for 1 year.
Area: 14,000,000 km2 (the world’s 5th largest continent)
Languages: English, French, Russian, Norwegian and Spanish speaking countries have
large research stations in Antarctica.
Religions: There is a Christian church which was built by the Russian explorers. The
continent has no religion and people are free to practice their own religion.
Climate: This is the coldest, driest and windiest continent. It is considered to be a
desert because it has very little rainfall. The temperature has reached -89 degrees
Celsius.
Economy: There is very small economy in Antarctica because many countries have
agreed to protect the environment and to not fight over the resources. There are few
resources and they would be difficult to collect because of the cold temperature. The
main industry is fishing.
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Australia and Oceania
36
List of Countries in Australia and Oceania
Australia
East Timor
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Federated States of
Micronesia
Nauru
New Zealand
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
General Information about Australia and Oceania
Oceania is a group of approximately 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean, including
Australia and New Zealand.
Population: 35,670,000
Area: 8,563,716 km2
Languages: English is most common, but there 28 other official languages on the
islands.
Religions: Christianity is the largest religion in the area, but some believe in animism or
claim to have no religion.
Climate: Much of Oceania is tropical or subtropical. The weather varies in Australia, but
the seasons are opposite from America or Europe because the whole continent is south
of the equator.
Largest Country: Australia
Economy: Australia and New Zealand have very strong economies and many of the
small islands depend on trade with these countries. Many people in this region work in
the tourism industry.
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Europe
38
List of Countries in Europe
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom (England,
Scotland, Wales, Northern
Ireland)
Vatican City
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
regions because they are at the border of two
geographical or cultural areas.**
39
General Information about Europe
Europe is the birthplace of “Western” culture. This region has been very important for
international affairs and economy for centuries. It was one of the leaders of colonialism
during the 1700-1900s, when many countries in Europe took control of weaker countries
on other continents (many in Africa and Asia). The leading political organization in
Europe is the European Union, which includes 27 countries. These members are able
to trade, travel and share a common currency, the euro.
Population: 731,000,000
Area: 10,180,000 km2
Languages: Many of the European languages are called “Romance” languages, which
come from the Latin languages. Another group of languages is called “Germanic” and
they have many similarities amongst themselves. The third group is known as “Slavic”.
There are about 230 languages spoken in Europe.
Religions: The largest religion is Christianity, followed by Islam. Others include Judaism
and Hinduism. Many people in Europe claim to have no religion or they are not
practicing.
Climate: Europe is mostly in the temperate climate zone. There are 4 seasons with
different temperatures depending on the country. There is a wind that blows across
parts of Europe which causes the weather to be a little bit warmer than other countries
at the same latitude.(for example, Italy is a little bit warmer than New York).
Largest Country: Russia
Smallest Country: Vatican City
Economy: Europe is considered to have the largest economy and be the richest of all
the continents. Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, France and Italy are some of
the world’s strongest economies.
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41
List of Countries in the Middle East and North Africa
The Middle East:
Afghanistan
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Israel
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian Territories
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Syria
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
North Africa:
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Somalia
Tunisia
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
regions because they are at the border of two
geographical or cultural areas.**
42
General Information about the Middle East and North Africa
This region stretches from the northern part of Africa and across to western Asia.
During ancient times, this area was a major center for world affairs. Nowadays, the
Middle East is an economically, politically, culturally and religiously sensitive region.
There are many different options about where the borders are for this area and what
exactly the Middle East is.
Population and Area: It is very difficult to determine a population or area for this region
because there are various ideas about which countries are included.
Languages: Arabic, Persian and Turkish are the 3 most common languages. There are
many other spoken by the different ethnic groups. English and French are common
second languages.
Religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam are believed to have begun in this area.
Religion has been the cause of a lot of the instability in this area for centuries.
Climate: This area is mostly hot and arid and very dry. There are many deserts
covering the region
Largest Country: Algeria
Smallest Country: Bahrain
Economy: Many countries around the Persian Gulf have large amounts of crude oil,
which help to bring money to the region. Countries in this part of the world are either
very wealthy (Qatar or Saudi Arabia) or very poor (such as Yemen). Tourism is
undeveloped in the region.
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North America, Central America and the Caribbean
44
List of Countries in North America, Central America and the Caribbean
North America:
Canada
Mexico
The United States of America
Central America:
Belize
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama
The Caribbean:
Antigua and Barbados
Bahamas
Barbados
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
regions because they are at the border of two
geographical or cultural areas.**
45
General Information about North America, Central America and the Caribbean
North America is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to
the west. Central America stretches between Mexico and Columbia (South America).
The Caribbean island group is located in the Caribbean Sea. When many people say
America, they are thinking about the United States. Actually any country in North,
Central or South America would be an American.
Population: 529 million (4th largest following Asia, Africa and Europe)
Area: 24,709,000 (about 16.5% of the world’s total land area)
Languages: English and Spanish are the most common, but French is also spoken.
Many of the islands have their own indigenous languages.
Religions: Christianity is the most popular religion in the region. The highest percentage
of Christianity is in Mexico (97%). Many fewer people claim to have no religion, practice
Islam, Judaism, or Buddhism.
Climate: Because the region begins very far north and reaches to the area around the
equator, there are many different climates. Many places are cool and humid.
Largest Country: Canada
Smallest Country: Saint Kitts and Nevis
Economy: Canada and the United States are the wealthiest and most developed
countries in the region. There is a lot of diversity between the economies of different
countries. Some are developed, while others have little money and a poor standard of
living.
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47
List of Countries in South America
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
regions because they are at the border of two
geographical or cultural areas.**
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General Information about South America
South America is a continent in the southern hemisphere, located between the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans. Music and dancing are very popular in this region. Many people
also enjoy watching and playing sports, especially football (American soccer).
Population: 385,724,554
Area: 17,840,000 km2
Languages: Spanish and Portuguese are the two most common languages. More
countries have Spanish as an official language, put Brazil is large and has a very large
population of Portuguese speakers. Dutch, English and French are less common.
Religions: Christianity is the most common religion in South America. Islam, Hinduism,
Judaism and some local religions may also be practiced.
Climate: Most of the continent is wet and hot all year. There are mountains in the
southern part of the continent and the weather can be very cold. There is also a desert,
where weather can be very hot and dry.
Largest Country: Brazil
Smallest Country: Suriname
Economy: Many economies have grown in the last 20 years. Some of the biggest
exports are natural resources. Tourism is also very important. There is a huge
difference between people who have money and those who don’t. Several countries in
South America are known for having slums and difficult living conditions.
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ReferencesAbout.com
Provides general information, maps, statistics and quizzes for a wide variety of topics.
http://geography.about.com/
ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian NationsProvides information about the member states, structure and current news regarding the
organization.
http://www.aseansec.org/index2008.html
The British Broadcasting Company
Offers news, sports, weather and travel information from around the world.
http://www.bbc.com
The CIA World Factbook
The United States Central Intelligence Agency provides up-to-date information about
history, people, governments, etc from around the world.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
Fact Monster
Offers educational resources for children, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, games
and homework help.
http://www.factmonster.com/
Famous Wonders
Provides list of top cities and tourists attractions in the world, including lists of wonders in
each region of the world.
http://famouswonders.com/
Forbes
Provides business, financial and technological information, as well as news about the
world’s top business leaders.
http://www.forbes.com/
Fun-Interesting Facts
Has funny, cool, weird, stupid, and random facts about many different topics.
http://www.fun-interesting-facts.com/
Geographia
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Offers information and news articles about countries and regions of the world.
http://www.geographia.com/
Infoplease
Has calendars, historical articles and many research materials, including dictionaries,
encyclopedias and quizzes.
http://www.infoplease.com/
The History Channel
Provides information about world history, people and events with articles, videos and
television shows.
http://www.history.com/
Lonely Planet
A travel site for people who are planning a vacation, want to research countries, or offer
information to help other travelers.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
Time
Provides information about important people, business, science, technology, politics and
other topics from around the world.
http://www.time.com/time/
The Travel Channel
Offers articles, pictures and videos about vacation destinations and helps tourist to make
travel plans.
http://www.travelchannel.com/
Unimaps
Has information about maps and flags from around the world.
http://www.unimaps.com/
The United Nations
The official site of the organization provides information about member countries,
organization news and policies, human rights and development.
http://www.un.org/en/
Wikipedia
A website used to research any topic, articles can be written and shared by anyone so
this might not always be accurate, but a good source for quick information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
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52
Provinces of Cambodia
Banteay Meanchay-Population: 678,033Area: 6,679 km2
Battambang- Population: 1,036,523Area: 11,702 km2
Kampong Cham-Population: 1,680,694Area: 9,799 km2
Kampong Chhnang-Population: 472,616Area: 5,521 km2
Kampong Som-Population: 199,902Area: 868 km2
Kampong Speu-Population: 716,517Area: 7,017 km2
Kampong Thom-Population: 708,398Area: 13,814 km2
Kampot-Population: 585,110Area: 4,873 km2
Kandal-Population: 1,265,805Area: 3,568 km2
Kep-Population: 40,208Area: 336 km2
Koh Kong-Population: 139,722Area: 11,160 km2
Kratie-Population: 318,523Area: 11,094 km2
Mondulkiri-Population: 60,811Area: 14,288 km2
Oddar Meanchay-Population: 185,443Area: 6,158 km2
Pailin-Population: 70,482Area: 803 km2
Preah Vihear-Population: 170,852Area: 13,788 km2
Prey Veng-Population: 947,357Area: 4,883 km2
Pursat-Population: 397,107Area: 12,692 km2
Ratanakiri-Population: 149,997Area: 10,782 km2
Siem Reap-Population: 896,309Area: 10,299 km2
Stung Treng-Population: 111,734Area: 11,092 km2
Svay Rieng-Population: 482,785Area: 2,966 km2
Takeo-Population: 843,931Area: 3,563 km2
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Members of the United Nations
Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and
Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and
Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African
Republic Chad Chile China Columbia Comoros Congo
Costa Rica Cote D’Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea Democratic
Republic of the Congo
Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People’s
Democratic Republic
Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia
(Federated States of)
Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco
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Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Republic of Korea Republic of Moldova Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Kitts and
Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines
Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and
Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab
Republic Tajikistan Thailand
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Timor-Leste
Togo Tonga Trinidad and
Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab
Emirates United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Republic of Tanzania
United States of America
Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela
(Bolivarian Republic of)
Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
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5 Most Popular Countries for Tourism
1. FranceCapital City: ParisAnnual Visitors: 76.8 million
2. The United States of AmericaCapital City: Washington, D.C.Annual Visitors: 59.75 million
3. ChinaCapital City: Beijing Annual Visitors: 55.67 million
4. SpainCapital City: MadridAnnual Visitors: 52.68 million
5. ItalyCapital City: RomeAnnual Visitors: 43.63 million
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10 Richest People in the World
1. Carlos Slim Helu and familyNationality: MexicanAge: 71 years oldNet worth: $74 billionSource of income: telecommunication
2. Bill GatesNationality: AmericanAge: 56 years oldNet worth: $56 billionSource of income: Microsoft
3. Warren BuffetNationality: AmericanAge: 81 years oldNet worth: $50 billionSource of income: Berkshire Hathaway company, insurance
4. Bernard ArnaultNationality: FrenchAge: 62 years oldNet worth: $41 billionSource of income: Louis Vuitton (LVMH)
5. Larry EllisonNationality: AmericanAge: 67 years oldNet worth: $39.5 billionSource of income: Oracle, software
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10 Richest People in the World
6. Lakshmi MittalNationality: IndianAge: 61 years oldNet worth: $31.1 billionSource of income: Steel
7. Amancio OrtegaNationality: SpanishAge: 75 years oldNet worth: $31 billionSource of income: Zara stores
8. Eike BatistaNationality: BrazilianAge: 55 years oldNet worth: $30 billionSource of income: mining, oil
9. Mukesh AmbaniNationality: IndianAge: 54 years oldNet worth: $27 billionSource of income: petrochemicals, oil and gas
10. Christy Walton and familyNationality: AmericanAge: 57 years oldNet worth: $26.5 billionSource of income: Walmart stores
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7 Natural Wonders of the World
These wonders of the world have been created by nature, and are amazing to see. Many people visit these sites every year admire their beauty and the power of nature. It is important to protect these sites so that future generations can also enjoy them.
The Grand CanyonArizona, United StatesDescription: The canyon is 446km long, 6-29km wide and over 1.83 km deep. It was created by the Colorado River. Scientists estimate that this took 2 billion years for the rock to be carved. People can enjoy hiking, rafting, and running there.
The Great Barrier ReefQueensland, AustraliaDescription: This is the world’s largest coral reef system. It is made up of about 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands that cover 554,260 km2. The reef can be seen from space and is sometimes called the largest organism in the world.
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The Harbor of Rio De JaneiroBrazil, South AmericaDescription: This is one of the most beautiful natural harbors. There are mountains located near the city and a world famous statue of Jesus overlooking the city of Rio.
Mount EverestNepal/China, AsiaDescription: Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. It is about 8,848 meters above sea level. Many people have tried to climb up the mountain, but 200 people have died. In 1953, Edmund Hillary (from New Zealand) was the first person to reach the top.
7 Natural Wonders of the World
Auroras (northern and southern)Alaska/Canada and AntarcticaDescription: Auroras are sometimes called the northern and southern lights. These can be seen at the poles, usually at night. They can be seen best during certain times during the year. Some people call these “the dance of the spirits”.
Paracutin VolcanoMexico, North AmericaDescription: This cone shaped volcano was born in 1943 and continued to grow from the ash and lava that it created. It had eruptions during 9 years, but it is impossible for this volcano to ever have another eruption.
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Victoria FallsZambia/Zimbabwe, Southern AfricaDescription: This waterfall is 108 meters tall and 1.7 km wide. It is located on the Zambezi River. The most water flows during the wet season, from October to April. This is one of the major tourist attractions in southern Africa.
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