World Regional Geography 2013-2014

GE 176 course looks at the world for the regional features, landmarks, cultures, and changes over time, space, and place. Any Pulsipher Editions give excellent reference maps and text for World Regional Geography.—Instructor Dr. L. Davis-Stephens

Text online study pages
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/pulsipher5e

"Finding a sense of place in a digital world"

Student groups post their digital productions here based on class topics discovered, explored, and presented; topics relevant to biogeography, the nature of a place—flora and fauna, on land or off shore.

Student Names
Place name
Image of map
Brief summary paragraphs (3-5)
2 URL

Mindi Keith
Geography
Linda Davis

Cimarron National Grasslands

The Cimarron National Grasslands consist of 108,176 acres of Great Plains cut in half by the Cimarron River. It is located in Morton County Kansas. They are considered a National Forest, however it doesn't consist of what you would normally consider a forest. Instead it consists of sand sagebrush, a 3ft tall shrub with a green-gray color. It also has many local wildflowers includingsilky prairie clover, wooly verbal, green milkweed, scarlet guarantee, field goosefoot, scarlet globe allow and wild begonia.the terrain is basically flat, sloping downwards west to east. Cottonwood and other trees are found near the river. It has a semi arid climate which receives around 18inches of precipitation a year; most of which happens in the summer. The river is typically dry but plenty of vegetation grows on the banks regardless.

Many birds that live in mountain type areas are found here such as chickadees, scrub jays, as Steller's Jays, and road runners. Several amphibians are found in the grasslands as well as an occassional elk.

During the dust bowl in the 30's Morton County was the most effected county in the entire dust bowl era. In 1938 the U.S. Soil Conservation Services started to restore the prairie, but in 1954 management was given to the U.S. Forest services and 108,175 acres of prairie became The Cimarron National Grasslands; dedicated to water conservation, wildlife management, recreation, cattle grazing and mineral production in 1960.

http://www.naturalkansas.org/cimarron.htm
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimarron_National_Grassland

Kennedy Fortin
Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in the central eastern portion of the U.S. state of California. The park, which is managed by the National Park Service, covers an area of 747,956 acres (3,026.87 km2) and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain. Over 3.7 million people visit Yosemite each year: most spend their time in the seven square miles (18 km2) of Yosemite Valley. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves, and biological diversity. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness. Yosemite was central to the development of the national park idea. First, Galen Clark and others lobbied to protect Yosemite Valley from development, ultimately leading to President Abraham Lincoln's signing the Yosemite Grant in 1864. Later, John Muir led a successful movement to establish a larger national park encompassing not just the valley, but surrounding mountains and forests as well - paving the way for the United States national park system.

Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals. The park has an elevation range from 2,127 to 13,114 feet (648 to 3,997 m) and contains five major vegetation zones: chaparral/oak woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone, and alpine. Of California's 7,000 plant species, about 50% occur in the Sierra Nevada and more than 20% within Yosemite. There is suitable habitat or documentation for more than 160 rare plants in the park, with rare local geologic formations and unique soils characterizing the restricted ranges many of these plants occupy.

The geology of the Yosemite area is characterized by granitic rocks and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and then tilted to form its relatively gentle western slopes and the more dramatic eastern slopes. The uplift increased the steepness of stream and river beds, resulting in formation of deep, narrow canyons. About 1 million years ago, snow and ice accumulated, forming glaciers at the higher alpine meadows that moved down the river valleys. Ice thickness in Yosemite Valley may have reached 4,000 feet (1,200 m) during the early glacial episode. The downslope movement of the ice masses cut and sculpted the U-shaped valley that attracts so many visitors to its scenic vistas today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park
http://www.yosemite.com/

geologic_map_of_yosemite_national_park_and_vicinity.jpg

Zachary Bird
Gabriel Bird

Belize

Wildlife
Even though Belize is small, it has many habitats with wildlife in them. It has mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and plants. Belize has a high species diversity of species in its aquatic region with about 65 coral species and over 300 fish species. There's 543 species of birds and the majority live in the rain forest. In boundaries of belize there is 145 mammals with 5 of the mammals species that are wild cats that live deep in the leaf forest.

Wonders
Belize holds one of the seven wonders of the underwater world.The Belize barrier reef is the second largest in the world. From the caves in the reef, geologist have found out that the belize barrier reef was formed by the glacial period. Rather than volcanic activity that formed the others. So the Belize barrier reef was added to the seven underwater wonders of the world.

Tourist Attractions
People visit Belize for its attractions. The Great Blue Hole is the best attraction for divers that like to go and look at the limestone formations that lines its walls and the many types of fish and sharks that swim around the area.
Families can go to the zoo to see a lot of the wildlife that Belize have. All the animals are on display in a scenery close to their habitats. Is one of the best zoos in the americas. This is popular for photographers.
Caye Caulker is an small island that takes about 20 minutes to walk around. People like to go to Caye Caulker island for their cheap prices. They have many dive shops around the island. They have many dive tours the the best spots around the area. Tourist can go and and enjoy their water activities, restaurants, and bars. Caye Caulker has little tourist attractions but is made up for with many good donors and nightlife like discos, clubs and dance halls.
Belize has many maya sites around it. The top three out of ten attractions at belize is the Great Blue Hole, the Caye Caulker, and the caracol.

Reference:
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/rainforest-belize-animals-plants-there-57019.html
http://7ww.org/listing/belize-barrier-reef/
http://www.touropia.com/tourist-attractions-in-belize/
http://www.westminster.edu/staff/athrock/BELIZE/Reef.html
http://www.belizezoo.org/the-animals/the-animals.html

Brittnee Higgs
Courtnee Higgs
Desmond Major

The Wasatch Mountain Range is located in northern Utah and run north and south from Logan to Provo which is about 160 miles. It is a part of the Rocky Mountains but it is does not have the tallest peak of the Rockies, the highest point in the Wasatch Mountains is at Mt. Nebo which is 11,928 feet, while in Colorado there are numerous points that are 14,000 feet. It covers 8,105 sq. miles. The Wasatch receive a heavy amount of snow with approximately 500 inches a year. It is home to many ski resorts such as Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, Sundance, Alta, and many more. Do to the lake-effect from the Great Salk Lake it makes the snow dry and powdery.
The Wasatch Mountain Range, east of Salt Lake City is teeming with wildlife. The population of these animals is approximately 400,000. This population include: deer, elk, mountain goats, cougars, bobcats, coyotes, fishes, porcupines, raccoons, beavers, badgers, rabbits, picas, eagles, owls, hawks, ducks, geese, lizards, salamanders, rattlesnakes and tarantulas. The mountain range is well known for deer and elk hunting, bird watching and fishing. Due to hunters over populating the area, the deer population is declining and as a result the DWR has given out fewer permits to help increase the deer population to where it was or even better. Hundreds of thousands of people go to the Wasatch Mountains just to enjoy nature. Others go skiing, bike riding, and hiking just to have fun.
In the Wasatch Mountains there is an abundance of plants and trees around. Some of the main species of trees are the lacebark pine, European larch, yellowwood, paperbark maple, and corneliancherry dogwood. Some of the trees that are to problems in the future are the cottonwoods, red maple, and globe willow. As of recently the trees in the Wasatch Front Mountains are recovering from a destructive beetle found a few years ago that killed many trees throughout the mountain. A few of the more populated plants found here are the honeylocust, blue spruce, and the little leaf linden.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/515034699/Wasatch-Range-part-of-Rockies.html?pg=all
http://www.utah.com/stateparks/wasatch_mtn.htm

Jairo Garcia
Austin Marshall
Redwood National Parks

Redwood National and State Parks
Located in the US, northern coast of California to be exact. In the 1850's more than 2 million acres of these giant trees covered northern California. This area was inhabited by Native Americans like the Yurok and the Tolowa. Some of these Native Americans live in those areas till this day. The area attracted lumberman and also gold miners thinking they would find gold. When they didn't they turn to harvesting the enormous trees to places like San Francisco. In 1918, Save the Redwoods League was founded to preserve the remaining redwoods. Their cause resulted in establishing the preserve parks. An estimate 96 percent of those enormous trees no longer stand. The tallest of these trees is Hyperion which measures 379 feet tall. Makes it the tallest living specimen on earth. In this area there are a few animal species that are threatened, like the Brown Pelican and the Northern Spotted Owl. There have been over 40 species that have been documented in the area and over 200 exotic species. With 30 of those being categorized as Invasive species.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwood_National_and_State_Parks
http://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm

Abigayil Russ
Melinda Shields
Shelby Siebert

Yellowstone National Park:Alpine biome
Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana is home to Yellowstone one of the most popular national parks in the country. Millions of people visit Yellowstone to observe the geyser Old Faithful. Old faithful is one of the most natural occurring aspects in Wyoming. A natural growing tree in Yellowstone National Park is the Plains Cottonwood. The plains Cottonwood tree was named the official state tree in 1947 of Wyoming. The Cottonwood plains tree is fast growing and one of Wyoming’s most commonly found tree.
Indian Rice Grass. Very attractive and is often used to help improve the landscapes of various properties. However Wyoming is lucky enough to consider this Indian rice Grass as native growing perennial bunchgrass.

Some native animals that you come across in Yellowstone’s National park would be: Buffalo, Black and Brown Bears, Wolves, native Ground squirrels. When people come across these animals they automatically drop what they are doing stop along the side of the road and pull out their cameras and camera phones and take pictures of the beautiful animals. It doesn’t matter how close they come to the dangerous animals they will stop at nothing to get a picture. If the cops find out that they are blocking the rode and have been there for more than twenty minutes they will get asked to move if they don’t they will get a ticket. People go crazy when they see animals and will just stop no matter what.

http://www.gardenguides.com/98095-plants-wyoming-desert.html

http://www.visitpinedale.org/explore/wildlife

Laura Dennis
Austin Avelar

San Juan Mountains

The San Juan Range forms the southern part of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The highest point in the range is Uncompahgre Peak, at an elevation of 14,309 feet.

There are a numerous amount of volcanic summits through out the range in which 13 rise over 14,000 feet. Many lakes, water falls, and streams including the source of the Rio Grande can easily draw the attention of an eye while exploring around. Hundreds of animal species and plants can be spotted while roaming around the vast range as well.

The Rio Grande rises on the east side of the range, and the western side is drained by tributaries of the San Miguel, Dulores, and Gunnison Rivers which all flow into the Colorado river.

Most of the land is publicly owned within parts of the Uncompahgre, Gunnison, Rio Grande, and San Juan national forests. There are many historical towns and relics from the gold and silver mining era that brings in tourism, which is a major part of the regional economy. Such activities of tourism may include, visiting ghost towns, and a narrow gauge railway that is a huge attraction in the summer. Jeeping is quite popular along with mountain climbing, skiing, and fishing. Many jeep trails can lead to historic mining camps that no longer remain in business. The most popular and top rated ski resort to visit and stay at is the Telluride Resort

Animals and wildlife abundant in this area are mule deer, elk, black bear, bighorn sheep, and cougars have also been sighted. This area is popular for big-game hunting mostly in the fall. Smaller animals such as snowshoe hare, badgers, marmot, porcupine, pika, over 300 different species of birds, and many more. The wild animals in this region thrive in its diverse terrain and vegetation.

http://www.summitpost.org/san-juan-range/171122
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_Mountains

Michael Dix

Taryn
Maisy
Anthony
Lorena

map%20of%20glacier%20national%20park21.jpg

Glacier national park

Glacier national park is a national park located in US state of Montana. The park expands 1,000,000 acres and includes 2 mountain ranges, 130 named lakes, and over 1,000 different species of plants, and hundreds of species of animals.

The climate in glacier national park is wet and windy. This location is one of the wettest in Montana. The average precipitation the park receives is about 42 inches. As you move east through the park, the climate begins to become drier. The summers seem to be very short and cool. While June is the wettest month, July and August are the warmest times with the average temperature between 60-70 degrees. The glacier winters are very long, but very mild because of Chinook winds that carry pacific air up and over the Rock Mountains. Average snow accumulations are about 225 inches with more the higher up you go. The coldest months are January and February where temperatures can dip down to –40 degrees.

Glacier is part of one of the largest preserved ecosystem known as, “ Crown of the continent ecosystem.” This means most of the wilderness is merely untouched. A total of 1,132 plant species have been identified in the park. The coniferous forest is mostly home to trees like the Engelmann Spruce, Douglas fir, subalpine fir, limber pine, and western larch. Cottonwood and Aspen are the most popular trees there found in lower elevations along lakes and streams. Above the forest valleys, and mountain slopes, the alpine tundra becomes predominant. Grass and small plants are scarce. Beargrass, which is a tall flowering plant, is commonly found near moisture sources and widespread during July and august. Monkeyflower, glacier lily, fireweed, balsamroot, and Indian paintbrush are common wildflowers.

Two of the most threatened species of mammals, the grizzly bear and Canadian lynx, found in the park. The wolverines have been seen in the park also. Other large animals such as the mountain goat, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, coyote, and the rarely seen mountain lion, are plentiful or common. Smaller mammals including the badger, river otter, porcupine, mink, marten, fisher and six bat species are also living in the pristine location. 260 bird species have been recorder. Because of the cold climate, ecotothermic reptiles are absent. Two species of garter snakes and western painted turtles are the only three reptile species known to existence.

http://www.allglacier.com/weather/
http://www.glaciernationalparkus.com/wildlife_ecology.php

Ashley Riley and Gennard Paul

The Western Hemisphere/the Caribbean

The western hemisphere consist of countries such as North and South America, Canada and our main focus: The Caribbean in particular: The Bahamas and Grenada.The Caribbean is a region that consists of the Caribbean Sea and its islands. Some islands are surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some are bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The region is southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America. Most islands of the Caribbean are said to be discovered by a famous pirate by the name of Christopher Columbus, but it was already called home by various native Indian tribes such as the Arawak, Carib and others like the lucyan Indians. These were the first settlers of the Caribbean, and a great part of where we get our culture from.
atlantis%202.jpg

I, Ashley am a true Bahamian from The small islands of the Bahamas. The Bahamas is an independent country and like Grenada it is a place that most people seek vacation and for others would only dream of visiting. The Bahamas is loved by many tourist, because of our all-around nice weather, sun, sand, sea, and great hospitality. There are many islands of the Bahamas; however I am from the capital which is Nassau. This island is the most populated and where you would find most tourist. Bahamians are known for their great food, speed on the track, and way of partying and extraordinary culture. Back in the Bahamas we have this part of our culture called junkanoo which was invented by the slaves way back in the 1800s. This is where groups of large numbers would march through the streets playing music by drums, horns, whistles, cowbells etc. They are accompanied by beautiful costumes. The Bahamas is a little piece of the world that is blessed with many talents, and seen by the world.

I am Gennard and I am from the most beautiful island in the Caribbean called Grenada. Its size is 344 square kilometers (133 sq. mi), with an estimated population of 110,000. Its capital is St. George's. Grenada is also known as the island of spice because of the production of nutmeg and mace crops of which Grenada is one of the world's largest exporters. In 1950, Eric Gairy founded the Grenada United Labor Party, initially as a trades union, which led the 1951 general strike for better working conditions. And he was successful in accomplishing what he set out to accomplish. On October 10, 1951, Grenada held its first general elections on the basis of universal adult suffrage. From 1958 to 1962 Grenada was part of the Federation of the West Indies. Independence was granted in 1974 under the leadership of Eric Gairy, who became the first Prime Minister of Grenada.
Civil conflict gradually broke out between Eric Gairy's government and some opposition parties including the New Jewel Movement (NJM). Gairy's party won elections in 1976, but the opposition did not accept the result, accusing it of fraud. In 1979, the New Jewel Movement under Maurice Bishop launched a paramilitary attack on the government resulting in its overthrow. Lots of people was killed others wounded. Since then Grenada is known in the Caribbean for its low homicide rate and its wonderful and friendly people. It is also known for its lush vegetation and worm sunny weather and beautiful beaches. Also we have the best parties and make the tastiest foods.

Cateline
Jade
Cumberland Island, Georgia

Cumberland Island is the largest barrier Island in Georgia and one of the most spectacular natural habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. This island stretches roughly 18 miles long and 3 miles wide, about 40 square miles. The place is a picture of perfection, with the ruins of several old mansions dating back to the days when the island was owned by the Carnegie family (in the late 1800s.) As well as these ruins, there is an abundance of wildlife and nature.
Spanish moss hangs from the limbs of all the trees as they arc over the pathways that lead through the island while long grasses sway on the edge of the vast beaches that make up one of the sides of the island. Over the years, the elements of nature have had their say as well, the wind shaping a vast valley of sand dunes.
The island is inhabited by wild horses, a reminder of the Carnegie’s days as they were released as one of the dying wishes of Lucy Carnegie. They roam where they please, the descendants of some of the finest bred horses that the late Carnegie owned.
Along with the wild horses, wild hogs ramble the underbrush while deer stay as invisible as they can in the wilder parts of the island. Bird watches frequent the island to catch sight of a multitude of birds that call the island home. As well as these, armadillos are a common sight in the clearings near the ruins.
All in all, this island is a wide landscape of beauty and diversity, full of flora, fauna, and wildlife. Along the Atlantic, there are few places that can out shine Cumberland Island, Georgia.

http://www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm
http://cumberlandisland.com/

Daniel
Grant

meandering_amazon_%28c%29_WWF-Canon__Andre_Bartschi.jpg

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/amazon/about_the_amazon/wildlife_amazon/plants/
http://cgee.hamline.edu/rivers/Resources/river_profiles/Amazon.html
The Amazon River is the 2nd longest river in the world after the Nile River and is in South America. It flows through the countries of Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the river is a total of 4,000 miles long. 1/5TH of the fresh water entering the world’s oceans comes from the Amazon River. There is no bridge that crosses over the Amazon throughout the whole river.

Around the Amazon River, it is made up of a variety of Indian cultures that have a great deal of knowledge about the rainforest environment. Native Amazonians have lived here for over 20,000 years. Though there are many different tribes spread along the Amazon. They believe in sharing the hunt and the food they gather. Rainforest plants and animals may hold cures to diseases and provide information and materials valuable to people around the world.
The Amazon is home to as many as 80,000 plant species from which more than 40,000 species. One of the species in the river is the Giant Amazon River Turtle which is one of the largest fresh water turtle in the world. The river also has Anacondas, Paraná’s and many other interesting species. Vines encompass a variety of plants, including lianas that hang from the treetops, bole climbers, which ascend tree trunks and stranglers.

Rainfall in some places can exceed 2000 mm (80") and there is no real dry season. Temperatures 27 - 32 °C / 80 - 90 °F are normal. Frost is unknown in winter. Daytime temperatures of 38 °C (100 °F) are rare, but the high humidity and monotony of the temperatures can make conditions very unpleasant. The Amazon's climate is heavily influenced by its tropical location which means it has a warm temperature and plenty of rain.

**The Amazon River

**Aaron
Ariel
Serena
Josh

Finger Monkey

Known to the Amazon the finger monkey is a rare yet fascinating primate. We know them as the “finger monkey” but they are also known as pygmy marmosets, and mono de bolsilla which translates to “pocket monkey” in English. It is the smallest monkey in the world. It’s equivalent to the size of your index finger, weighing about 5 oz. These animals live in groups of 8-10 and live in forested areas with a lifespan of 12-16 years on average. In rare cases, they can live up to 22 years of age. Females are capable of giving birth every 5 months, and are capable of having quadruplets. Finger monkeys thrive on things such as leaves, nectar, fruits, insects, spiders, small lizards, and the gum from trees. Although these creatures are very fascinating, they are illegal in the United States.

The Amazon River

The Amazon is so vast in its variety and size. To show an example the Amazon River is approximately 4,000 miles long and it has not one bridge across because there’s no need. During its rainy season, the river can run up to 120 miles in width. In that river, many different species of fish exist. In fact, 3,000 call the Amazon River their home. One of the most feared and dangerous species of fish is the piranha. It is carnivorous and when in groups tends to attack livestock that stray into the river.

The Amazon Rainforest

Where is the Amazon located? Over half of the Amazon is located in Brazil. It’s also found in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Ten percent of the world’s species live the Amazon Rainforest, including two and a half million different insect species as well as over 4,000 plant species. More than 2,000 different species of butterflies are found in the rainforest. Among these species are trees that create the amazon canopy and range from 98-148 feet high. With these trees live cougars, jaguars, and sloths. The Amazon is a home to so many important wildlife that we need to keep our ecosystem clean and healthy.

South America- The Amazon!
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/finger-monkey.html

http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/expeditions/amazon-river-cruise/detail

Erin
Sasha
Macinzie
Taryn

Angel falls, Venezuela

Climate
Angel Falls is located in, Gran Sabana, Bolívar, Venezuela and is generally influenced by an equatorial climate. An equatorial climate consists of high rainfall throughout the year. This area experiences a dry season that ranges from January to March, and a wet season that ranges from April to December. Angel Falls’ usual annual temps range from 10°C (50°F) to 21°C (69.8°F). These temps may not seem so hot to us up here in the United States, but when you get closer to the equator, and you are near any large body of water, those temps that may seem low to us, rise because of the humidity.

Fauna
There are a lot of different fauna that live in the jungles, grasslands, and mountain sides in Gran Sabana, Bolívar, Venezuela. For example, there are monkeys and poison arrow frogs. These animals and amphibians live in the jungle part of Angel Falls. Other than the monkeys, there are other mammals in the grasslands and mountain side areas. Although they are difficult to spot they include giant anteaters, armadillos, three-toed sloths, otters, jaguars, pumas, tapirs and capybaras. This would conclude the type of fauna that lives in the Angel Falls area.

Flora
Not only do animals show up in this tropical area, there are lots of different floras, or plants. There are a dense amount of species of orchids around the falls. Most of the plants that grow at the top of the waterfall do not grow anywhere else in the world. There are also other interesting and exciting floras that are coniferous and eat insects to satisfy their nutritional needs. Most of these plants that grow in the area originate from a place called Roraima. Roraima is one of the harshest places on earth because it rains almost every day of the year. There is also other plants that live on the mountain sides and in the grasslands, and if you want to read more about it, click on this link (carnaval.com/venezuela/canaima/#Plant_Life)

http://www.airpano.com/360Degree-VirtualTour.php?3D=Angel-Waterfall-Venezuela
http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/latin-america-angel-falls.html

Derian
Shanice
Orinoco River

Location and Animal life:
The Orinoco River is located in South America. It begins in the Parima Mountains on the border of Brazil and travels 1700 miles through Venezuela before empting into the Atlantic Ocean.
There are thousands of animals through the Orinoco River. They have a lot of birds around area including the Scarlet Ibis, Bell birds, Umbrella birds, and many varieties of parrots. There are also many aquatic animals. The carnivorous piranha, electric eel, a laulao (which is a type of catfish that can weigh up to 200 LBS), as well as some of the largest crocodiles in the world which can reach up to 20 ft. long! This river has the basic insects most places have such as butterflies, Beatles and ants. It also holds some endangered species such as the pink river dolphin, the Orinoco crocodile, the giant river otter and the giant anaconda.

Vegetation and Climate:
The Orinoco River is divided into four regions, the Guiana Highlands, the Venezuelan Highland, Lake Maracaibo Basin, and the Orinoco lowlands. Climate and vegetation varies throughout the regions, the Guiana Highlands also known as the Guyana Shield, consist of larger and small patches of high dense forest. Venezuelan Highlands contain hundreds of tree species which depend on elevation. Orinoco lowlands are swamp regions covered by Mangrove swamps. The lowlands include the Llanos which contain a treeless savanna, low steamed grasses and carpet grass, the lower areas consist of swamp grasses and bunch grass. The fourth region, Lake Maracaibo Basin which covers around 366,00 square miles containing a tropical climate, along the river includes Mauritia Flexuosa and Xerophtic tress which are adaptive to conditions such as dwarf palm, and scrub oaks.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/432619/Orinoco-River/41708/Plant-life
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/432619/Orinoco-River

Josh Quiroga
Luis Pujol
Omar Trevino
Myke Kinuthia

Andes Mountains

HighLand Climate

Has the longest mountain range in the world and is located in South America running north and south. The mountain climate is one of the most interesting climates in the world, only because of its drastic changes it makes in its region. It also has a very high snow line that reaches from Peru and all the way to northern Chile which reaches an altitude over 19,000 Ft. The Andes stretches a long widespread of 4,500 miles on South Americas West Coast. The climate is split into many different Zones, Tierra caliente is the hot land where there is nothing but jungle, fruit, and crocodiles grow and live in that particular region. Paramo is the (westland) region where only such things can survive like, lichens and mosses.

Animals/WildLife

The Alpaca

A particular type of animal that lives around in the Andes is the Alpaca. Alpaca's have a tiny head and along with a cleft upper lip and big pointed ears. They are slender with very long necks that also have long legs but a short tail. They appear in many different colors, just depending on the region you are in. You might come across some that are white, gray, black, brown, and many more. They usually weigh around one hundred-twenty to one hundred-forty pounds and are 4-7 feet long.

The Andean Condor

The largest vulture in south america is the condor which has a wing span over 10ft and maybe more. Males could weigh in around 24 to 33 pounds, female weigh in about 18 to 24 pounds. They have black feathers mostly with a little bit of white on its flight feather wings. They can soar at an altitude of 18,000 feet. Both parents take turns taking care of there eggs/young until they are 6 months old, which at that time they are old enough to fly and care for them self.

Vegetation

There is much plant life in the Andes mountains, a forest in particular that is located there is the Polyepis forrest which is at an altitude of 4,500 meters in sheltered areas. There is just about 15 million trees in the Andean zone, as long as 20 evergreen tree species that are gnarled shapes. The trees have thick and dense bark with small green and gray leaves. Polypeis is a group of tree species, which only fifteen of them only grow in South America in northern Chile.

Work Cited
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/andes_plant_page.htm
http://www.livescience.com/27897-andes-mountains.html

Sean Skiles
Benjamin Jurek
Josh Jones

Yosemite National Park is located in Eastern California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Covering about 750,000 acres, the park, established in 1890, boasts granite cliffs, waterfalls, and Giant Sequoias. The park is home to over 250 species of animals, 37 of which are endangered, and 1,400 species of plants, 160 of which are quite rare. The park's elevation ranges from 2,000 to 13,000 feet, and due to its Mediterranean climate, the park recieves 36 to 50 inches of rainfall a year.

Old growth forests consisting of Ponderosa Pine, Sugar Pine, and Douglas Fir dominate the park's western boundary. Black bears, bobcats, mule deer, spotted owls, and white-headed woodpeckers are common in these areas. Further up the mounatinside, Red Firs and Jeffrey Pines are commonplace, with Golden-mantled ground squirrels, hermit thrushes, and Stellar's Jays living there. Rising toward the peaks, the treeline grows thinner, and bare deposits of granite fill the gaps between pockets of trees. Yellow-bellied marmots, jackrabbits, and Black Rosy Finches are adapted to these harsh conditions. In several places throughout the park, at just about any elevation, you might find grassy meadows where Great Grey Owls, Yosemite toads, and mountain beavers live.

Around 10 million years ago, movements of the tectonic plates forced the Sierra Nevada range upwards, with glaciers carving out the valleys .This process took place until about the end of the last ice age. The park remains relavtively untouched by human development, unlike surrounding areas, and contains 225,000 acres of old growth forest, with 94% of the park being designated as wilderness. Mount Lyell is the park's highest peak, measuring at 13,115 feet above sea level.

One prominent species of animal in the park is the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, thought the population is quite small. In Yosemite Park, these sheep are only found around Tioga Pass. The species prefers higher elevations, and are found near the sparse treeline , where they are able to see farther, in order to help detects predators. They also utilize the rocky terrain, and use it to escape from predators.

Giant Sequioas are the world's largest tree species, and grow to up to 279 feet on average, but record-holding trees have been known to grow up to 350 feet. These trees are also incredibly old, some dating to 3,500 years. They may have up too 11,000 cones on them at any time, allowing them to disperse 300,000-400,000 seeds a year.

Yosemite National Park recieves nearly 4 million visitors a year, and is a great example of nature untouched by human hands.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070127153544/http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/nature/wildlife.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20070101113353/http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/nature/wtr_climate.htm
http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/index.htm

Alex, Emily, and Weston
Patagonia
Location:
Patagonia is located at the southern tip if South America in Argentina. It is in the Western Hemisphere. Patagonia is derived from the spanish word patagón which the explorer Magellan used to describe the people of the area who were taller than the Europeans and thought to be giants. It contains the provinces of Nequen, Rio Negro, Chubut, and Santa Cruz.

Climate:
Due to the fact that Patagonia lies at the southern most point of South America, close to Antarctica it is very cold and known for its spectacular glacier formations. This combined with the chill of the Andes mountains makes a cold climate.

Flora:

There are four major types of vegetation in patagonia:
The Patagonian Steppe- Made of desert shrubs and tuft grasses resistant to harsh winds and weather.
Pre-Andean Shrubland- Evergreen shrubs like the edible calafate.
Magellanic Deciduous Forest- Deciduous antarctic beech trees
Andean Desert- low temperatures and high precipitation

Fauna:
Mammals:
Guanaco
Cougar
Patagonian Fox
Patagonian Hog-Nosed Skunk
Magellanic Tucotuco
Birds:
Southern Caracara
Austral Parakeets
Green Backed Firecrowns
Chilean Flamingo
Upland Goose
Steamer Ducks
Black Browed Albatross
Marine:
Southern Right Whale
Magellanic Penguin
Orca
Elephant Seals
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia
http://www.ecocamp.travel/Patagonia/Flora-and-Fauna

"Finding a sense of place in a digital world"

Student Names
Place name
Image of map
Brief summary paragraphs (3-5)
2 URL

Next student post here.

Kelsey Simpson
Scotland: Highlands

The Scotland Highlands are full of rich land, animals, and vegetation.

The trees and shrubs of the land are many but to name a few:The Scotland Highlands are full of rich land, animals, and vegetation.
The trees and shrubs of the land are many but to name a few:
The Oak: are very beautiful, but if one would see them at their best, one should see the woods around Arisaig Bay and Beasdale in the far away western Highlands. Very large, and noticeable in the woods.
The Birch: found at higher elevations than any other tree in the Highlands, often reaching 3,000 feet. It forms broken thickets on the steep, craggy sides of the glens, open scrubby woods upon the sandy moraines of Speyside, and pure woods in many parts of the Highlands, especially in the more exposed and elevated parts of the valleys where the strength of the wind precludes any other trees.

Animals of Scotland Highlands:
There is some remarkable marine life in the coastal waters surrounding the Highlands. The Moray Firth has its bottlenose dolphins and the Cromarty Firth has its colony of common seals. The Highlands also has a wonderful variety of birdlife. The sea eagle, Britain’s largest bird of prey, on the Isle of Skye. The north Highlands is one of the best areas for spotting golden eagles. The cliff-tops of the north coast draw large numbers of puffins, guillemots and razorbills. The Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie not only has native wildlife like red deer, Scottish wildcats and pine martens, but also more exotic animals such as tigers, red pandas and polar bears.
The most notable of them is the Highland Pony (pic above). One of the truest British native types, Breeders of Highland Ponies still have an on-going role for their ponies, for deer forests, trekking, agriculture, driving, endurance riding and other recreational pursuits. Ponies are still bred for bone and substance but the main departure in recent years is the selection of good strong active animals for riding and driving. But isn’t he so ADORABLE!!!

http://www.electricscotland.com/gardening/plantlife/chapter12-1.htm
http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/about/wildlife/highlands/

Alex Pollman
Haley Hake
Cody Cravey
Sandra Bustillos
Jessica Quist

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef in the world, stretching over an area of 133,000 square miles. Among one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, it is the world’s biggest structure made out of living species, and – amazingly – the only living organism that can be seen from space.
It is known for its extensive selection of aquatic creatures. The Great Barrier Reef supports a vast array of life forms. Thirty species of whales, dolphins and porpoises have been recorded. Also there are 1,500 types of fish including clownfish, red bass, red-throat emperor. One of the least likely creatures to be found in the area are saltwater crocodiles, which also inhabit the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is surrounded with loads of sunshine, warm seas, and refreshing sea breezes. There is a warm climate all year round. This region has two distinct seasons; a winter period of warm temperatures and low rainfall, and a summer period of balmy temperatures and higher rainfall. You can swim in the Great Barrier Reef all year around.
Built upon a foundation of coral – a hard substance made of limestone – the Great Barrier Reef consists of about 2900 individual reefs and hundreds of islands, providing multiple shelters and food sources for the thousands of species surrounding it.
http://www.australia.com/explore/icons/great-barrier-reef.aspx?channel=paid-search&tacampaign=us-local-fy2014&campaign=167-destinations-exact&message=brand&publisher=google&website=google&adgroup=australian-icons-exact-exact&keyword=google-great-barrier-reef&matchtype=exact

http://www.barrierreef.org/home

Keenan Williams
Raheem Brown
Ariel Parson

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

http://thecollaboratory.wikidot.com/world-regional-geography-2013-2014
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-the-reef/facts-about-the-great-barrier-reef

Its the largest structure on the planet. Its so big it can be seen form outer space. It stretches 2300 kilometers and extends over 14 drgrees of lattitude. Its betwwen 60 and 250 kiloometers in width. Has an average of depth of 35meters inshore. Extends south from the northern top of Queensland in north-eastern Australia to north of Bundaberg. Made up of 900 island and 2900 reefs

It will be warm water animals. Have 100 different species of jellyfish. Over 3000 varieties of mullucus and 500 species of worms. Have 1635 tyes of fish, 133 variets of sharks are rays, and 30 species of whales and sharks. The climate is mostly warm. You can swim in the water year around During the winter is warm temperatures with low rainfall, and during the summer is hot temperatures with high rainfall.

Casey Temmel Zach Mann
Austin Lowell Bryley Roper

South Pole- Antarctica

Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent, containing the geographic South Pole. It is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 5.4 million sq mi, it is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole.

Wildlife in Antarctica consists of many different animal species including: fungi, anthropods, and mosses. There are fish in the surrounding waters: Warty squid and Antarctic krill. Seals also call this harsh temperature home. The main animal in Antarctica is the Emperor Penguin. These are the only animals to breed on the land in winter. The other birds fly North, somewhere close to the equator to survive for the winter.

Antarctica is the southernmost continent therefore reaching the all time low temperatures of -89.2C/ (-128F).

Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pole

page revision: 225, last edited: 24 Dec 2014 18:46

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