World Regional Geography 2019

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.+++ Dr. Linda Davis-Stephens, Instructor

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"Finding a sense of place in a digital world"

Student groups/or individuals 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 Name(s)
Topic
Image map upload in Files/Insert
Brief summary paragraphs (3-5)
2 URL

Next student post here.
Sofia Hampton
Peru
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RxOYnfNA5aY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Mercedes Ramos, The Costal City of San Andres

Peru's infinitive for there land. The people who have and still do live there use but not abuse there home and I want others to take more time to understand how important it is in every culture to do the same.
Recognize Peru Beauty and diversity. I want my viewer to breath in Peru's geological structure and take into account how it should not be messed with. The amount of exploration that one person could experience there would take a life time and it should be treasured.
I wanted my listeners to be interested in craftsmanship as well. The people make up the land and what centuries of craftsmanship have done to the country of Peru is incomparable.
For future students, when doing this project the first and foremost important part is to be excited about there location. It has to connect to them as a person. What they are interested in or what they partake in every day. The cool thing about this assignment is its left to the student to choose any location they choose. It doesn't have to be a big city or a popular location, it just has to be a location that excites them. Having this excitement will push students to really dive into there research and enjoy what they are creating.

The City of San Andres is a small island in Colombia but it’s geographically closer to Nicaragua and Jamaica. The island is multicultural and bilingual, the most common languages are Spanish, English and, Creole. This island is part of an archipelago,meaning a group of islands and it includes multiply cays, reefs, atolls and sand banks and it's all within an area of
twenty square miles.

The estimated population of the island is 80,000 people of which most are Colombian. The currency is in pesos, which a USA dollar is the same as 3,426 Colombian pesos.

The climate/weather in San Andres is beautiful all year round, never below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The island is located on 12 degrees on the Northern/western hemisphere; it's in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. The seasons do not change like in the North, there are only two seasons; a wet season and a dry season. The island consists of beautiful white sand beaches, turquoise waters and, dramatic corral formations. The island is home to many species and plants. For example the Leptotila jamaicensis neoxena is a type of bird and its also known as a Caribbean dove. This dove is really beautiful, they typically have their back wings an olive colored brown with light grey and their chest a pale grayish/ whitish and rosy color. Their face, throat area are a whitish Turing blue/grayish color, they are beautiful.

Another animal on this island is Sphaerodactylus argus andresensis which is a gecko subspecies. This type of reptile is one of the medium sized species with an overall length of 6 centimeters. The tail and the body are almost equal in length. Females are typically light brown in color and theirs head consists of yellow dots that extend to their snout and neck area. While males have only the head pattern but its blurred, the dots follow their tails(sometimes dots make lines )and their base color is darker.

The island also has a garden named el jardín botánico and it has a lot of beautiful plants

Parker Weishaar
Catalina Island

Catalina is a small island off the coast of California with about 75 square miles of landmass and a population around 4,100. The island is rather well suited for tourism, with a large tourist town called Avalon, featuring many hotels and water related tourist activities, even an airport (although it has fallen into disrepair in recent years) on the West of the island a large Boy Scout camp/Summer Camp known as Emerald Bay sits nestled into the north side of Two Harbors.

A lot of coral reefs, kelp forests, and shipwrecks make for unique and diverse species of marine life. California Sheephead, Bat Rays, Leopard Sharks, Lions Mane Jellyfish, and the Garibaldi, Make up a small portion of the varied ocean life. On land, a surprising wildlife feature is the 150 or so bison that call the island its own. Originally brought over in 1924 for the filming of a western “ The Vanishing America” the bison have now made a home on the island along with deer, foxes, and other assorted mammals.

While not the best source of information, The Wikipedia page offers a fantastic overview of the island https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Catalina_Island_(California)

And the Catalina Chamber has wonderful information on how accessible this island is to both tourists, and researchers https://www.catalinachamber.com/

Kaylin Schaben
Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is a beautiful area that is dominated by the jungle and forested mountains. It is one of the many small islands that make up the Caribbean’s Windward Islands. Saint Lucia is the second largest of the Windward group and is 27 miles long with a maximum width of 14 miles. The capital is Castries and is a major port. The island is of volcanic origin and there are many streams that flow from the mountains through fertile valleys. There are two main seasons throughout the year. There is a dry season from January through April and then a rainy season from May to November. The average highs range in the 80s in and the lows in the 60s. There are lots of colorful plants and animals that live on this island. There is a Saint Lucian parrot that is an endangered national bird that lives on this island. There are also a mix of different ethnicities that live in Saint Lucia and the rate of population growth for the island is slightly higher than the Caribbean average. There has been an increase in population particularly in Castries and Vieux Fort. The main religion is Roman Catholicism. For the agricultural aspect of the island, the top crop used to be sugarcane but most of the cane fields were converted to banana cultivations. So bananas are the superior crop now. The other crops they grow are coconuts, citrus, yams, etc. They also have a steady local fishing industry. Saint Lucia’s primary education is free for students of all ages. As for communications on the island, they have radio and television broadcasts that are widely received and they have several of their own newspapers.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Lucia

https://www.thefactsite.com/saint-lucia-facts/

Kassidy White
Central Great Plains

The Central Great Plains is a forgotten yet important part of North America. This vast, open, semiarid region of grassland generally lies East of the 100th Meridian. Stretching 282,000 km2 from Nebraska to Texas, it covers a good portion of the Midwest. The Missouri river drains the Plains from Wyoming to Kansas. Agriculture dominates this region today and is a driving force for the people who call the Central Great Plains their home.

The weather on the Central Plains usually consists of cold winters and hot summers. Rain is scarce, with 15 to 25 inches annually, and high winds with sudden temperature changes are common. Both animals and plants have to be hardy and able to handle extreme weather. Tall and medium grasses dominate the vegetation in the plains. With drought resistant trees such as box elder and cottonwoods found along creeks and rivers. Before settlers, large herds of buffalo and pronghorns dominated the prairie. Today, only small, controlled herds of buffalo roam, while pronghorns thrive. Coyotes, badgers, prairie chickens, rattlesnakes, foxes, Mule and whitetail deer all can be found roaming the plains.

The population of people on the plains is few and far between. Most who call the prairie their home are secluded from neighbors and or live in rural communities. This isolation is something celebrated through. Residents of the plains feel a deep connection to the land and the history of it. Agriculture is what keeps the Midwest breathing with most jobs and careers being agricultural related. Natural Gas and petroleum also contribute to the plains economy.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Plains/The-people-and-economy

http://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/intro.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Great_Plains_(ecoregion)

fall 12week students

Eddie Davis

The biodiversity of the native plants and animals that live in the Hawaiian islands is breath-taking. On the northern and eastern sides of the islands, where the trade winds drop their moisture on upsloping hills and mountainsides, luxuriant rainforests contain a profusion of species of trees, shrubs, birds, and insects. On the southern and western sides of the islands just a few miles away open landscapes of grasses and shrubs receive just a few inches of rain a year. On the flanks of the high volcanoes of Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii, scattered bushes and hardy flowering plants endure frequent frosts and even an occasional snowfall. In the reefs surrounding the islands, hundreds of species of tropical fish swim amid colorful beds of coral.

Where did all these plant and animal species come from? The Hawaiian islands consist of the tops of mid-ocean volcanoes, are about 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from the nearest continent, and have never been connected to any body of land. Plants and animals therefore could not have taken an overland route from continents such as Asia or the Americas to reach the islands. Many of the plants and animals on the islands are so similar to species elsewhere that they obviously were brought to Hawaii by the humans who began colonizing the islands between approximately 1,200 and 1,600 years ago. But many other plant and animal species on Hawaii are so different from organisms elsewhere that they must be native that is, they had to be present on the islands before the arrival of human beings.

The characteristics of native Hawaiian plants and animals raise further questions. Most native Hawaiian species are endemic, which means that they are found in Hawaii and nowhere else in the world. How did these unique species come to live only in the Hawaiian islands?Furthermore, though the islands have a rich variety of flowering plants, insects, birds, land snails, and fish, they have no native species of reptiles, amphibians, or conifers, and a single species of bat and a seal species are their only living native mammals. Why do some kinds of organisms live in Hawaii but not others?

Finally, some categories of native Hawaiian plants and animals are represented with remarkable abundance. For example, approximately 800 species of flies belonging to the genera Drosophila and Scaptomyza exist in the Hawaiian islands about a quarter of the worldwide total and far more than are found in a comparable area anywhere else on earth. But only about 15 percent of the world’s total of insect families is represented in Hawaii. Before the arrival of humans, Hawaii had no native species of termites, ants, or mosquitoes, according to the fossil record.
https://www.visittheusa.com/state/hawaii
https://portal.ehawaii.gov/
Allison Hiatt

Guadeloupe: Animals, Plants and Vegetation

Guadeloupe is located in the Caribbean. It is it's own island, most near the Dominica island. Guadeloupe has different types of animal, plants and vegetation around the island. The animals they have are different types of birds. underwater animals, and other types of animals. The island have 33 species of birds, but have 17 endemic to the the Lesser Antilles. Some types of bird that are on the island is, Black Woodpecker (Picnior), Pelican, Hummingbird, Thrush, Frigate bird, Wild Ducks and many more. If I was able to go to this island, I would love to see the Wild Ducks and the Black Woodpecker. The types of marine life in the oceans around the island is, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, west indain manatee, lobster, octopus and many more. They are know to have tons underwater life with animals and all. Some other types of animals is different species of bats and the island also have raccoons as well.

Katelyn Medina
Slot Canyons
Map

It is said that Utah has the largest concentration of slot canyons in the world, and many of them are easily accessible. A slot canyon is a narrow canyon that is formed from water rushing through rock. What starts off as a tiny crack steadily grows larger from repeated flash floods and erosion over millions of years. The end result is a narrow canyon with very high walls.
These canyons range from ten inches wide to several meters wide. The narrower canyons usually feature twists and turns and beautifully scalloped walls. Some canyons feature sections requiring canyoneering or a rock scrambling experience. Also, due to the fact that slot canyons are formed from rushing water, the danger of flash floods still exists today. Hikers have died because they were caught by a flash flood while in some of these canyons. The natural forces that carved slot canyons are still at work to this very day even light and distant rainfall can render slot canyons to be extremely dangerous. However, in clear conditions, hiking the slot canyons of Utah is a fascinating journey into one of nature’s greatest accomplishments.
One of the more popular slot canyons are the Spooky and Peek-a-boo Slot Canyons they make a great half-day adventure. Starting at the bottom of naturally sculpted Peek-a-boo and climbing up, passing under a few arches, and over a few pot holes. From the top you follow the slickrock to the entrance of Spooky. Slide sideways through this narrowest of the earth’s crevices. If you happen to find yourself longing for a nice getaway mixed with a little adventure then this is the spot for you!

Sites:
www.earthtrekkers.com/slot-canyons-american-southwest/
www.visitutah.com/things-to-do/slot-canyons/
utah.com/top-5-slot-canyons-in-utah

Patrick Vanderknaap
Ryan Carter
Bryce Hatten
Hawaii

Hawaii’s island animals and Vegetation

Hawaii is made up a total of 137 islands each have their unique traits. Each island is home to many different types of wild life, as well as the waters surrounding the land. One of the many animals that live off the Hawaiian coast are the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. Often seen of the North Shore or even resting on the beach of Punaluu Black Sand. Also, in the abundant waters surrounding the islands is the Spinner dolphins. This specific species is known for their spinning behavior; actually, being able to make roughly 5 spins while leaping of out of the water. They feed of the variety of fish that live off the coast of Hawaii. The islands are home to an estimate 20% of fish that is found anywhere else in the world. Many can be found in the deep coral reefs in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Such as the Masked Angelfish is found often 200 ft. off Pearl and Hernes.
Hawaii is known for the amazing waters, but some forget the life on the islands. Animals such as Feral Wallaby. They are almost like miniature kangaroos, that are originally native to New Guinea and Australia. Not to mention they are declared Near Threatened by the ICUN. The islands also have pigs; these however don’t swim as the ones in the Bahamas. Pigs, cattle, goats, and even donkeys managed to have a harsh effect on the vegetation when humans brought them over. In the past Hawaii had a rat problem, so one of the ways they started to take control of the matter was non-native Indian Mongoose’s. They however predated on birds who nested on the ground and endangered turtles. Creating a big loss in the Hawaiian crow and Hawaiian goose population. The Hawaiian Goose being the state bird and the rarest species of geese in the world, with the help of being over hunted.
Hawaii consist of six vegetation zones: coastal, lowland rain forest, montane rain forest, subalpine, alpine, and dry leeward. A great way to sample many of the exotic fruits is by visiting the Hilo Farmer’s Market. You will be able to try a variety of each fruit, such as the apple bananas or finger bananas. You can find many edible fruits walking through the islands, however not everything is not for consumption. Such as the wood off a mango tree shouldn’t be used for firewood. The sap when burned will produce a smoke that can cause eye and respiratory irritation. The islands are a great place for plants and fruits to grow because of the high humidity and precipitation. Hawaii has to spends millions of dollars each year to keep infiltrative species from over populating the native plants and animals.

Sites:
https://www.gohawaii.com/marine-life-of-hawaii
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/press/2014/pr031314.html
http://www.instanthawaii.com/cgi-bin/hi?!00vuviCOrMAXTmanIECRdCacKedutbnQTeasIinBrj7887Cha0gwormuQbbk02jvO31rfjnOneeqIfn2
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-animals-live-in-hawaii.html

Dakota Faircloth
white sands

map
eassy
2url

Tim Rojas
Grand Canyon

ge176%20grand-canyon-national-park-map.jpg

Map
Essay
2 URL

Mauri Scales
Amazon River
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The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world (after the Nile River). Although this is often debated but it has the largest water-flow in the world by far. It also has the largest drainage basin of any river in the world. The River Amazon is massive. Its width varies between 1.5 and 10 km, but during the wet season it can become several times wider than this. It is often referred to as the River Sea because of its large size. The Amazon releases more than 200,000 cubic meters of water per second into the Atlantic Ocean. One fifth of the freshwater entering the world’s oceans comes from the Amazon River.

How did the Amazon get to be so big? The first reason has to do with its location - right at the equator. Around the "belt line" of the earth lies a warm, tropical zone where over 400 in/1016cm of rain fall every year. That averages out to more than an inch (3cm) of rain, everyday! A lot of water falls onto the land surrounding the river, what is called the Amazon River drainage basin. A good way to understand what a drainage basin is to think of the whole northern half of the continent of South America as a shallow dish, or saucer. Whenever rain falls and lands anywhere in the river basin it all runs into the lowest place in the pan, which happens to be the Amazon River. The sheer volume of rain in the Amazon jungle, as well as the slope of the surrounding land, combine to create the enormous river known as the Amazon.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Amazon-River
https://www.thoughtco.com/amazon-river-overview-1435530

"Finding a sense of place in a digital world"
Student groups/or individuals 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.

next student post here

Lachlan Ross and Ryan Morgan
Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef and is located just of the coast of North Eastern Australia and is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The reef stretches over 1800 miles between Bundaberg and Cape York. The reef contains over 400 different types of coral and also attracts a large assortment of marine life such as dolphins, whales, rays, dugongs, tropical fish, sea turtles, birds and reptiles. The Great Barrier Reef was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981.
The Great Barrier Reef is longer than the Great Wall of China and is the only living thing visible from space. The cities that border the Barrier Reef are understandably focussed on promoting tourism activities on the reef. Tourists are able to scuba dive in some places of the reef and get up close and personal with the coral and other sea creatures inhabiting it. There are also whale watching tours during humpback birthing season, as well as ray and dolphin swimming tours. Furthermore, there are many tropical islands within the Barrier Reef that allow for even more intimate experiences with the reef.
In recent times, the Great Barrier Reef has struggled to cope with rises in global temperatures and experienced bleaching of the corals as a result. This is caused by the warm temperatures killing vital algae that feeds the coral and gives them their vibrant colors. If unfavourable conditions persist, the corals begin to die, however, a return to normal conditions allows the reef to regenerate. Current estimates suggest up to 60% of the Great Barrier Reef is experiencing bleaching events. There has been large efforts of late to control factors such as fishing, pollution and trawling to reduce the bleaching impact on the reef.

http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/about-the-reef
https://www.coralcoe.org.au/for-managers/coral-bleaching-and-the-great-barrier-reef

Imari Grayson
Dubai Nature

Dubai is in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere located in the United Arab Emirates also known as the UAE, situated in the united Persian Gulf. Dubai consist of deserts and water with a population close to about 2 million people also it is a man-made island which expanded its land area. The exposure Dubai has received for its numerous natural hazards has expanded over time consisting of earthquakes, landslides, flooding and tropical storms.
Dubai has a variety of landscapes starting from their sparkling beaches to their high mountains, although the landscape is often forgotten or over looked due to its glamorous attractions of skyscrapers and towers in the city. Over 204 bird species, 158 migrated birds from around the world, 26 different kinds of reptiles and 19 endangering species live among the Al Marmoon reserve. Not to mention the Al Marmoon reserve is an unfenced grassland for the animals to roam freely. This desert site can also give an outtake on the highest concentration of flamingos in the country. Although there are many animals in Dubai there are six animals that one would most definitely spot if they went on tour there, these animals are the most popular to Dubai. The Arabian Oryx, once extinct but now roaming the deserts of Dubai. This antelope species is the most highly specialized for hash environments. The Arabian Spiny Mouse, positive to frighten one in the household of Dubai yet this tiny species has fur on its back protecting it from predators. A Cape Hare is a tremendous species of hares living in the desert, this species is delicate with its soft and straight fur. A Desert Hedgehog, A Camel and lastly a Caracal which is a unique and gracious cat living in the desert.
Furthermore, Dubai also has an attraction of plants that bring the city its fragrance and its beauty. Beginning with the Phoenix Dactylifera, also known as the Date Palm. This species is over 50 million years old growing at the height of 23 meters. The sweetness and plumpness of the Date Palm typically depends on the glucose, fructose, and sucrose levels contained in the fruit. This species also grows very easily from seeds and can take anywhere from 4-8 years to bare fruit after planting. Next is the Bougainvillea a common garden plant that blooms with white flowers that are surrounded by very vibrant colored bracts. This plant grows to about 12 meters, requires little water once established and has a high tolerance for drought. The Delonix Regia also known as the Flame tree is a very flamboyant tree with a display of flowers. The name “Flame Tree” originated from its tropical red and orange color scheme. The standard size is anywhere from 5 meters to 12 meters and the optimum flowering season is from May-July. Followed by the Frangipani also know as the plumeria is a very popular garden plant consisting of delicate white and yellow petals and very dark green leaves. Studies say in the 16th century this plant was used in Italy for the creation of sweet-smelling perfume. There are over 300 of these species yet most are deciduous or small trees. Lastly is the Tropical Hibiscus also known as the Hibiscus Rosa- Sinensis. This ornamental flower can be found in areas of tropical weather, it thrives best in sand and won’t survive under 10 degrees Celsius. This flower could also be known as the China Rose.

https://justgasit.net/2018/02/22/6-animals-you-will-spot-on-your-tour-to-dubai-desert/
https://insideoutmagazine.ae/garden/article/1119/top-5-plants-that-thrive-in-uae-gardens

Arthur Berthelin
France

My subject is about Alpes separated between different European countries like Switzerland, Italy, France… I will be focused on the French part and the kind of animals and plants that we can find there.
The difference of vegetation zones that occur reflect differences in elevation and climate. Global warming has caused an upward migration of plants since the early 1900s.
On the valley floors and lower slopes grow a variety of species of deciduous trees; like linden, oak, beech, poplar, elm, chestnut, mountain ash, birch, and Norway maple. At higher elevations, you’ll find coniferous; like spruce, larch, and a variety of pine are the main species.
The animal that can be find in the Alps are sheep and cows grazed during the short summer because of the vegetation there.

So, Elevation is a very big factor for vegetation and animals development.

map-of-alps-the-mountain-range-fhct-big-italy-ranges.jpg

https://www.britannica.com/place/Alps/Plant-and-animal-life
https://wikitravel.org/en/French_Alps

Joshua Ochs

Tasman Sea

ashley wilson kathleen lindstedt
ireland forest

Ireland has fewer plant and animal species than Britain or mainland Europe. That’s because Ireland became an island very shortly after the last Ice Age about 10,000 years ago. The habitats in Ireland are diverse and include farmland, open woodlands, broadleaf and mixed forests, conifer (evergreen) areas, bogs, and many types of coastal environments. There are only 26 land mammal species that are native to Ireland. Again, this is because Ireland was isolated from Europe by the rising sea after the Ice Age. Some species, such as the red fox, hedgehog, and badger are very common. Others, such as the Irish hare, red deer and pine marten are seen less often. Wildlife that lives in water, such as turtles, sharks, whales, and dolphins, are common off the coast. Extinct animals include, among other species, the great Irish elk, the wolf, and the great auk. Some animals that were extinct in Ireland, such as the Golden Eagle, are successfully being introduced to their former home.

Until medieval times Ireland was heavily forested with oak, pine, beech and birch. Forests now cover about 9%, or one million acres, of the country. Ireland’s climate is relatively mild, so many kinds of trees, including some sub-tropical palms, grow in Ireland. Much of Ireland is covered with wildflowers and pastures, and the number of species of wildflowers is huge—they look for any nook and cranny to plant their beautiful roots. Ferns love the wild wet places such as waterfalls and creek beds and are plentiful, especially in Western Ireland. As a matter of fact, Ireland has 100s of plant species that only grow in Ireland. Our most common native trees include oak, ash, hazel, birch, Scots pine, rowan and willow. Eventually, people brought other trees, such as beech, sycamore, horse chestnut, spruce, larch and fir

The Southeast enjoys more hours of sunshine than the rest of Ireland, and Northern Ireland gets less sunshine than the rest of the country. As in other countries in the Northern Hemisphere, the most sunshine occurs May through August, while December and January have only a few hours of sun per day. Perhaps just as important in Ireland, because of its northern latitude, are the hours of light each day. In the summer you may only have a few hours of real dark, while during the winter sunlight is a thing to be treasured.

https://www.authenticireland.com/ireland-facts/
https://treecouncil.ie/tree-advice/native-species/

Rihards Sergis
Iceland
Iceland%20Map.jpg

Iceland

Iceland is a Nordic island country in North Atlantic. Population is just 350’000 and an area of 102’775km2 , 39,682 sq mi. The capital and also the largest city is Reykjavík, which is a home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active. The interior consists of a plateau characterized by sand and lava fields, mountains, geysers, glaciers, and many glacial rivers that flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is at high latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, and other seasons are chilly and cold. Iceland is the only place where you can experience horizontal rain. When I was in Iceland, I experience horizontal rain, and it is really bad and so much different than normal rain. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle. With the widespread availability of geothermal power, and the harnessing of many rivers and waterfalls for hydroelectricity, most residents have access to inexpensive hot water, heating, and electricity. Renewable sources like, geothermal energy and hydro-power, provide effectively all of Iceland's electricity and around 85% of the nation's total primary energy.

Iceland has hundreds of volcanoes with about 30 active volcanic systems. On 21 March 2010, a volcano in Eyjafjallajökull in the south of Iceland erupted for the first time since 1821, forcing 600 people to flee their homes, and causing huge problems in Europe. The resultant cloud of volcanic ash brought major disruption to air travel across Europe, some airports were closed or shutted down. The climate of Iceland is subarctic, mainly in Iceland’s coast, and tundra, huge area is covered by tundra. The climate varies between different parts of the island. The south coast is warmer, wetter, and windier than the north. The Central Highlands are the coldest part of the country. Low-lying inland areas in the north are the most arid. Snowfall in winter is more common in the north than the south. Iceland is a geologically young land. Iceland is the surface expression of the Iceland Plateau, a large igneous province forming as a result of volcanism from the Iceland hotspot and along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), the latter of which runs right through it. Iceland is widely known as "The Land of Fire and Ice", however, it is also the land of light and darkness because in the summer days with near 24-hours of sunlight; offset by short winter days with very little sunlight. This is because Iceland is located just below the Arctic Circle.

2 URL
1) https://www.icelandtravel.is/
2) https://www.inspiredbyiceland.com/

Landee Kistler and Jo Hummermeier

Stewart Island, New Zealand

Stewart Island

New Zealand (NZ) is a large island nation located in the Eastern Hemisphere, just off the coast of Australia. It is made up of two main islands and various smaller islands. Altogether, New Zealand is roughly the same size as the United Kingdom or Japan. One of the most popular smaller islands to visit in New Zealand is Stewart Island, or Rakiura, as the native people call it. Located about 19 miles south of the southernmost part of New Zealand, Stewart Island is actually the third largest island in NZ. However, while the region may be small, it is full of beautiful surprises and great diversity!

Because New Zealand is somewhat of an isolated country, it has a vast variety of animal life. Stewart Island is no exception as it and its islet, Ulva Island, give life to some of the most unique and endangered species in New Zealand. The animals that are the most popular in this area are the various birds. Weka, fantails, rifleman, native tui, silvereyes, kererū (NZ pigeons), kākā (forest parrots), Stewart Island robins, yellow-crowned and red-fronted parakeets, and albatross are all just a few of the unique birds found on the islands. Of course the nation’s famous flightless bird, the kiwi, is abundant here too. The Stewart Island kiwi, South Island saddleback, yellowhead and southern brown kiwi (tokoeka) can all be found at this location as well. Different species of penguins also live on Steward Island and the islet, such as the yellow-eyed, southern blue, rockhopper, Fiordland crested and Snares crested penguins. Depending on the season, one might also spot a few bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, sea lions, elephant seals, or harlequin geckos. The marine life around these islands are also very diverse. Kina (sea urchins), sea cucumbers, starfish, Giant kōkopu, banded kōkopu, longfin eels, redfin bully, giant bully, lamprey, and three species of non-migratory fish can be found in the rivers and in the oceans.

The Stewart Island in New Zealand has several plants in its country. Here are some of the plants that are home to Stewart Island like the leatherwood, a hardy scrub with large shiny leaves, and a variety of other floras including mountain buttercups and mountain daises. In Stewart Island the bush forms a more or less wide fringe round edge, rising to the foothills. Deer’s have cleared most of it of the once-luxuriant undergrowth of ferns and saplinge. The common type of bush is the rimu-rata-kamahi with thin-bark totara, miro, broadleaf, Nothopanax species and stinkwood. Matai and kahikatea are rare and local. Lawyer, supplejack and the tree-ferns, Cyatheasmithii, Dicksonia squarrosa and fibrosa are common. Here are some of landscape that are around Stewart Island Bald Cone exfollation dome, Big Hellfire sand pass, Ernest Islands sand tombolo (Mason Bay), Granite Knob and Lees Knob exfollation domes, and Mason Bay sand passes and parabolic dunes.

Sources:

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Alane McWiliams
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Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and sits in the Indian Ocean of the eastern coast of southern Africa. The island is known for its tropical rainforest that is home to the unique animals that live in Madagascar. It has a high plateau with mountains in the center of the island.

The island is home to 5% of the world’s species, which many of them are only native to the island. Animals such as different species lemurs, fossas, aye-ayes, tomato frog, satanic leaf-tailed gecko, and the lowland streaked tenrec, painted mantella (frog), panther chameleon, and the birds the of Madagascar the fody and long-eared owl. All beautiful and unique animals but all are endangered due deforestation for agricultural and commercial resources.

Plants that are used for agriculture products are coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, beans, bananas, and peanuts.

Sources:

https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-learn-all-about-madagascar-1435198 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

https://www.wildmadagascar.org/overview/geography.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-unique-animals-live-in-madagascar.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

page revision: 112, last edited: 11 Dec 2019 20:01

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