World Regional Geography Fall 2012

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.

Megan Schoendaler
Continental Divide

The Continental Divide is, also known as the Great Divide, is a natural boundary line that separates the waters that flow into the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico from the waters that flow into the Pacific Ocean. The Continental Divide runs north and south from Alaska to northwest South America following along the Rocky Mountains in the United States. Precipitation that drains on the east side of the Continental Divide flows toward the Atlantic Ocean and precipitation on the west side flows toward the Pacific Ocean.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Divide_of_the_Americas
http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/contdiv.htm

wildlife/habitats/biodiversity

http://www.defenders.org/sites/default/files/publications/continental_divide.pdf

Diana Hashenberger
Durango, Mexico

Durango, Mexico.
Its natural beauty comes from the geographic diversity of the local territory which includes the west flank of the Sierra Madre Occidental with its great canyons and thick forests; a section of the vast desert called the Bolson de Mapimi at the north; and the sierras and plains with extensive pasturelands of the Mesa del Centro at the east.

The main peaks within its geography are the Cerro Gordo, Cerro Barajas, Sierra el Epazote, Cerro Panfilo, Cerro El Tascate, Cerro el Oso and Cerro los Altares, all of them rising above 3,000 meters over sea level.

Up in the Sierra or mountain range, climate is tempered and sub-humid, with abundant rainfall that nourishes the extensive pine and oak forests that cover the mountains, and that represent 46% of the surface of the state. Up north in the Mapimi desert, climate is of course hot and dry or semi-dry, and it is home to species typical to that kind of ecosystem such as the brickellia, the prickly-pear, the wild lettuce, the maguey and the cassie or huisache. On the other hand, the central and eastern plains report a dry and semi-hot or semi-dry and temperate climate, and are occupied by grazing lands for cattle or have been transformed for the agricultural activity.

The most representative animals in the area include deer, wolf, bear and owl in the forests; Mapimi turtle, snakes and scorpion in the desert; and coyote, fox and crow
in the valleys.

Nazas River, Spanish Río Nazas, river in Durango and Coahuila states, northern Mexico. Formed in Durango by the confluence of the Oro (or Sestín) and Ramos rivers, which descend inland from the Sierra Madre Occidental and meet at El Palmito, the Nazas flows first southeast and then east-northeast to the Laguna District, where it reaches the now-dry Mayrán Lagoon. Its total length is approximately 180 miles (290 km), but, as part of the land-redistribution program of the Laguna District, the Lázaro Cárdenas and Francisco Zarco dams were built across the Nazas in Durango, controlling the river and significantly reducing its flow. Several large cities, including Lerdo, Gómez Palacio, and Torreón, lie on the river’s banks.
Durango (IPA pronunciation /duʲraŋgo/) is one of the constituent states of Mexico. Its estimated population in 2003 was about 1,450,000 people. The city of Durango is the capital. The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range located in the western portion of the state. This mountain range contains a plentiful supply of mineral deposits, including the silver that encouraged Spanish occupation of the territory after it was discovered. These mines extend north into Chihuahua and south into the state of Zacatecas.

The city of Durango is the capital of the state of Durango, Mexico, located at 24°01′N 104°40′W.

The most representative animals in the area include deer, wolf, bear and owl in the forests; Mapimi turtle, snakes and scorpion in the desert; and coyote, fox and crow
in the valleys.

The city of Durango is the capital of the state of Durango, Mexico, located at 24°01′N 104°40′W.

http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Durango
http://www.ehow.com/about_6511132_interesting-durango_-mexico.html

Chelsea and Kellan
Yellowstone

Historic and Factual Overview of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone national park is considered the world’s oldest national park. It was created by congress and singed into law March 1st 1872 by president Ulysses S. Grant. Credit for the discovery of the many natural treasures within the 2.2 million acres within the park can not be bestowed on any one person. The Lewis and Clark expedition held one of the earlier reputable reports of the areas wonder. However they did not investigate the region. Surprisingly little attention was given to the area during the Americas early years as a nation. Often if anyone had seen the wonders of the area they weren’t believed when they recounted their tails. Many times the mountain men and fur trappers who had seen it couldn’t read or write either. Consequently the area stayed low profile to the public for many years. Additionally gold prospectors were not successful in the area and an official government expedition was not sent for many years because the army was occupied with the civil war and Indian disputes.
In 1871 Ferdinand V. Hayden who was associated with the U.S. geological survey made an official exploration of the region recruiting both scientists and artists for the exploration. Prior to official exploration many had called for the regions beauty to be preserved. This was reinforced when Hayden presented his report to congress.
Today Yellowstone National Park is approximately 80% forest 15% grass land and 5% water by surface area. There are about 290 waterfalls, 300 geysers, approximately 10,000 thermal features and thousands of petrified trees. Yellowstone has an active volcano, and nearly 3.4 million people visited the park in 2011.

saiii.digitalphotochat.com

travel.nationalgeographic.com

http://cleanet.org/research_education/yellowstone/anthropology_archeology.html

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/upload/4_Ecosystem.pdf

Pedro Garcia
Brian Wood
Sebastian Nehls
Amazon River Basin

The Amazon River basin is about 4,195 miles long, covering about 2,720,000 square miles in area, including its 15,000 tributaries and subtributaries (four of which are in excess of 1,000 miles long). It is the largest river basin in the world.Geologically, the Amazon River and basin are contained by two large stable masses of Pre-Cambrian rock, the Guiana Shield or Highlands to the north, the Central Brazilian Shield or Plateau to the south; the Andes Mountains to the west; and it flows eastward to empty into the Atlantic Ocean.

The climate is warm and humid, with an average temperature of 79 degrees and an average yearly rainfall of 80 inches. Temperature differences between day and night are greater than those between seasons.The Amazon Rainforest is thought to be the oldest tropical forest area in the world, perhaps as much as 100 million years old. The floral provinces of Amazonia are marked by geographic variations in sunlight, rainfall, temperature, and soils.

The trees, of which 117 species have been counted in an area of one half of a square mile, are of enormous variety. The uppermost layer of the rainforest is called the canopy. It receives most of the light energy from the sun and is a zone of extreme profusion of life.

http://www.wcupa.edu/aceer/amigos/cd/rainforest.htm

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/amazon/the_amazon_river_basin/

Bernard Newbold
Anthony Stephens
Kyle Reed

Inagua National Park is 287 square miles located in Great Inagua Island which is the most southern island of The Bahamas. Now internationally known as the world's largest breeding colony of West Indian flamingos, the Inagua National Park is home to more than 75,000 of these birds in the protected park and is the National Bird of The Bahamas.

In 1997 the Inagua National Park was recognized as a wetland of International Importance as the Bahamas became a signatory of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Inagua's interior gives way to Lake Windsor and it is here among the cays and mangrove stands that Tri-colored Herons, Great Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, Brown Pelicans, White Cheeked Pintails and West Indian Whistling Ducks can be found. A multitude of avifauna reside and/or winter in Inagua and the island is truly a birdwatcher's haven.

The West Indian Flamingo is hardly one to get confused with other birds. Its long legs, long neck and characteristic pink colour make these birds like no other. The West Indian Flamingo has a large, heavy, down curved bill that is most often described by the layperson as "strange". Adults can reach up to five feet in height.

Even though the Flamingo is a strong ﬂier, it is really quite shy and prefers to live in remote and lonely places. Usually these are rather desert-like spots, dry islands and shorelines where salt is made, and where few other creatures can survive. The island of Great Inagua ﬁts that portfolio perfectly. This is where the majority of West Indian Flamingos are found in The Bahamas. The ﬂock breeds around Lake Windsor (Rosa) which lies within the boundaries of Inagua National Park.

The West Indian Flamingo which once roamed the entire neo-tropical region (tropical Americas) was hunted to a near extinction. Today the West Indian Flamingo is mostly found on the island of Great Inagua in the Bahamas but has also recolonized islands in the Bahamas such as Mayaguana, Crooked and Acklin islands, Exumas, Long Island and Andros.The West Indian Flamingo has also recolonized other countries such as Aruba; Brazil; Colombia; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; French Guiana; Guyana; Haiti; Jamaica; Mexico; Netherlands Antilles; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; United States and Venezuela.

Flamingos are filter feeders and feed on the microscopic plants and animals found in ponds and mud. The larvae of the salt marsh ﬂy is one of the major constituents of the diet of West Indian Flamingos. They also eat brine shrimp, small snails as well as other forms of animal and vegetable life so small that they can scarcely be seen without the aid of a microscope! Although small in size, this food is rich in a protein called beta-carotene which gives Flamingos their characteristic colour. Flamingos stir up their food from shallow water and separate it from the mud and water by pumping and straining it through their bill. They are the only birds which feed with their bill upside down!

Flamingo breeding activity usually begins in early March when huge ﬂocks gather and engage in elaborate and loud courtship displays. This is almost like a very large dance - the massed birds parade together shoulder to shoulder, preforming head flagging (waving the head from side to side), wing salutes (opening the wings to expose the black flight feathers) and the twist preen (twisting the neck over the back and pretending to preen itself whilst stretching out on of its wings. The chorus of courting birds can be heard miles away. This synchronized courtship dance stimulates the birds to breed at the same time, ensuring that the chicks are hatched around the same time

http://www.mnh.si.edu/livingfossils/flamingo.htm
http://www.flamingoresources.org/carflam.html

Denali, Alaska
Chris Burchfield, Courtney Kinnett, and Zach Hoss

Alaska was Russian territory before the United States purchased it in 1867 in what was called "Seward's Folly." The United States then founded Denali National Park in February 1917 by the government. The name of the park was originally Mount McKinley National Park, however it was changed to Denali National Park in 1980.

Denali National Park has over 6,000,000 acres located in south central Alaska in the Alaska Range. It has three major climate zones within the park. The lowlands "taiga" which is a forest consisting of pines, spruces and larches. At the middle elevation is mostly tundra with glaciers, rock, and snow at the higher elevations. The longest glacier there is Kahiltna Glacier which 36 miles long. The park also consists of the highest point in North America, Mt. McKinley which has an elevation of 20,327 feet above sea level.

Denali National Park contains a large variety of wildlife, such as grizzly bears, black bears, caribou, doll sheep, moose, and grey wolves. The park is also known for having an extensive bird population. In the lakes and rivers of the park, there are ten different species of fish, such as trout, salmon, and arctic grayling. There is only one known amphibian species located in the park known as the wood frog.

More than 400,000 tourists visit Denali National Park annually. The tourists enjoy wildlife viewing, moutaineering, and backpacking. In the winter season, tourists take part in cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and dog Summers are usually cool and damp with temperatures possibly in the 70s. A meteorlogical station was placed near the summit of Mt. McKinley by the Alpine Club in 1990. It was placed at an elevation of 19,000 feet above sea level. It recorded the North American record for coldest windchill of -118.1 degrees Fahrenheit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._McKinley#Weather_station
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denali_National_Park

Yellowstone National Park
Bryce Lewis, John Clarke, Peter, Josh Martinez

Yellowstone National Park is the flagship of the National Park Service and a favorite to millions of visitors each year. The park is a major destination for all members of the family. By driving the grand loop road, visitors can view the park from the comfort of their vehicle and also take a rest at one of the many roadside picnic areas. For the active visitor, the park has thousands of miles of trails from dayhikes to backcountry explorations.Yellowstone, widely held to be the first national park in the world, is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park. It has many types of ecosystems, but the subalpine forest is dominant. Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been documented, including several that are either endangered or threatened. The vast forests and grasslands also include unique species of plants. Yellowstone Park is the largest and most famous megafauna location in the Continental United States. Grizzly Bears, wolves, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk live in the park.

World's First National Park
2,219,789 acres (Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined)
Wildlife - 7 species of ungulates (bison, moose, elk, pronghorn), 2 species of bear and 67 other mammals, 322 species of birds, 16 species of fish and of course the gray wolf.
Plants - There are over 1,100 species of native plants, more than 200 species of exotic plants and over 400 species of thermopholes.
Geology - The park is home to one of the world's largest calderas with over 10,000 thermal features and more than 300 geysers. It has one of the world's largest petrifiied forests. It has over 290 waterfalls with the 308' Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River as it's showpiece.
Yellowstone Lake is the largest (132 sq. mi.) high altitude (7,732') lake in north america.
9 visitor centers
12 campgrounds (over 2,000 campsites)

http://www.npca.org/parks/yellowstone-national-park.html?adwords=1&category=park&gclid=CLKd0NKY-bICFUeRPAodjSUAiQ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park

Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana
Cameron Medina, Kathy Brooks, Fabian Hayles, and Martha Balbuena

The Atchafalaya Basin is a swampy area that lays in south central Louisiana and is a combination of a river delta and the Gulf of Mexico and is susceptible to heavy flooding. The Atchafalaya Basin Covers 930.5 sq. miles it is about 20 miles in width from east to west and 150 miles in length, it is considered the largest swamp in the United States. The Atchafalaya covers one million acres of bottomland including areas that are hardwood, swamplands, bayous and black-water lakes. The word Atchafalaya comes from the Choctaw Language combining the words “Hatcha” meaning river and the word “Falaia” meaning long. About 30% of the Mississippi River is diverted in to the Atchafalaya Basin at the old river control station located on the Morganza Spillway and this is by law.

There are about 60 different species of amphibians and reptiles that are inhabitants of the Atchafalaya basin. Some of them are Turtles, snakes (water moccasins) and the American alligators which are on the endangered species list. The other animals include birds such as the roseate spoonbills, egrets and the brown pelican which is the state bird. In the Atchafalaya basin has about 100 species of fish and aquatic life such as crawfish. There are about 22 million pounds of crawfish harvested every year. Some other types of animals are the North American river otter, white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, the spectacular swallow-tailed kite, and neo-tropical migratory birds and the black bear. The black bear is an animal that is on the endangered species list.

Since water is so plentiful there are many types of plants and trees that love the Atchafalaya. The official state tree is the bald cypress tree they can grow up to 130 ft. There is one bald cypress tree that is located in the Atchafalaya basin that is 1,000 yrs old. Another tree that is found in the Atchafalaya basin and it is similar to the bald cypress is the Water tupelo it has its roots in the water and has green flowers that grow on it in March – April.

The Atchafalaya offers several different things for a person to explore. There are boat tours and camp grounds. Local restaurants offer dishes cooked with seafood from the basin and the folk lore is like nothing else.

http://www.atchafalayabasin.com
http://www.visitlouisiana.com

Tornado Alley
Dylan Moss
I live in a small town known as Rexford, Kansas. My small town I live in is almost dead center of what they call Tornado Alley. Tornado Alley is a region of the United states that has the most frequent F-3, F-4, and F-5 tornados. This region consists of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Most tornados occur on flat lands this is why most tornados occur in the middle region of the United States (Tornado Alley) and those in this area are at great risk. Tornado Alley is at such risk because it is where cold dry air from Canada and Rocky Mountain air meets the warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and the hot, dry air from the Sonoran Desert which causes a very unstable atmospheric instability and strong thunderstorm capable of producing F-3, F-4, and F-5 tornados. A lot of people know what and where Tornado Alley. So based on what they hear and know, some misunderstand that tornados can occur almost anywhere else. Tornados occur even more eastward past tornado alley all the way to the east coast but are not as likely. However resent studies have shown that the once know tornado alley has been moving more eastward and shifting over to a new tornado alley due to changes in the climate. Now tornados do occur on the western half of the United states but the chances are slim and far less powerful ones. Currently Texas has the most tornado touch downs followed by Oklahoma then Kansas.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/what-where-is-tornado-alley-forbes_2011-04-14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_Alley

"Finding a sense of place in a digital world"

Student Names
Place name
Image of map
Brief summary paragraphs (1-3)
2 URL

Barcelona's first botanic garden was created in the late 16th century on property belonging to the Capuchin monks, near Plaça Reial. The first garden with a truly scientific vocation, however, was planted in Sant Joan Despí in the late 17th century by Jaume Salvador i Pedrol. The Salvador family were prominent botanists in Catalonia from the 17th to the 19th century. Today, their valuable collections are conserved and exhibited at Barcelona's Botanical Institute.
Bailey, Paige, Kasey, and Andjela

http://w3.bcn.cat/V65/Home/V65XMLHomeLinkPl/0,4555,418159056_418871429_3,00.html

Wildlife
http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/wildlife/native-spanish-animals.asp

Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is located on the northeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It is 120 km south of the Pyrenees and the Catalan border with France. The climate of Barcelona is Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers. Barcelona is sometimes a windy city, surrounded by a semicircle of mountains that shields the city from the harsh cold winter winds that blows out of the north and the west. The continuous temperature is 61 degrees Fahrenheit. January is one of the coldest months with a temperature of 49 degrees, and in August the hottest temperature is 76 degrees, their precipitation is about 23 inches per year. Barcelona lies at latitude 41°21'N and longitude 02°10'E.
Barcelona, facing the Mediterranean to the southeast, is located on a plain generally confined by the Besós River to the north, the Llobregat River to the south, the rocky outcrop of Montjuich (567 feet high), and the semicircle of mountains of which Tibidabo (1,680 feet ) is the highest point. Throughout its past Barcelona has had to contend with the consequences of its strategic location and political significance. The city was heavily fortified and did not spread much beyond its medieval confines until the 19th century.
Part of their culture is that it is a bilingual city, Catalan and Spanish are both official languages. They are known for their football (soccer) team. Even though bullfighting is permitted in Spain, it is banned in Barcelona. The people of Barcelona recognize that tourism is a major commodity and are generally excepting to the fact that Barcelona is a major city for tourism. They are generally friendly and carefree people.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/53030/Barcelona/21575/Cultural-life
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona

Talha Mahmood
Gabe Johnson

Pothohar Plateau

The Potohar Plateau also spelled Pothwar, Potowar or Pothohar) is a plateau in north-eastern Pakistan, between north Punjab and the western parts of Azad Kashmir. The area was the home of the Soanian Culture, which is evidenced by the discovery of fossils, tools, coins, and remains of ancient archaeological sites. Potohar Plateau is bounded on the east by the Jhelum River, on the west by the Indus River, on the north by the Kala Chitta Range and the Margalla Hills, and on the south by the Salt Range. The Kāla Chitta Range thrusts eastward across the plateau toward Rawalpindi; the valleys of the Haro and Soan rivers cross the plateau from the eastern foothills to the Indus. The ramparts of the Salt Range stretching from east to west in the south separate Potohar from the Punjab Plain. The Pothohar Plateau includes the current four districts of Jhelum, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Attock. The terrain is undulating. The Kala Chitta Range rises to an average height of 3,000 ft and extends for about 45 mi. The Swaan River starts from nearby Murree and ends near Kalabagh in the Indus river. Sakesar is the highest mountain of this region.

Most of the hills and rivers are bordered by dissected ravine belts. The streams, due to constant rejuvenation, are deep set and of little use for irrigation. Agriculture is dependent largely on rainfall, which averages 15 to 20 in. annually; rainfall is greatest in the northwest and declines to arid conditions in the southwest. The chief crops are wheat, barley, sorghum, and legumes; onions, melons, and tobacco are grown in the more fertile areas near the Indus. The diverse wildlife includes urial, chinkara, chukar, hare, mongoose, wild boar, and yellow-throated Marten. Due to low rainfall, extensive deforestation, coal mining, oil and gas exploration, the area is becoming devoid of vegetation. The under water areas of lakes (Uchali, Khabeki, Jhallar and Kallar Kahar) have been reduced to much smaller areas than in the past.

The plateau is the location of major Pakistani oil fields, the first of which were discovered at Khaur in 1915 and Dhulian in 1935; the Tut field was discovered in 1968, and exploration continued in the area in the 1970s. The oil fields are connected by pipeline to the Attock Refinery in Rawalpindi. The major cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and the smaller cities of Chakwal, Jhelum and Attock are situated on the plateau.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pothohar_Plateau
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribes_and_clans_of_the_Pothohar_Plateau

The Sahara Desert
Ryan Kosolofski, Tanner Spencer, David Nelson

At over 9,400,000 square kilometers, the Sahara desert is the largest desert in the world and covers over 10% of the entire African Continent. At one point in time, thousands of years ago, the Sahara desert was rich and lush in vegetation and contained many river animals as well as dinosaurs at one point. Now the Sahara desert is barely inhabited my animals except for in the few oases’ and the river Nile. Aside from the Nile, there a few seasonal rivers but most of the water can be found in underground aquifers. As it is now, the Sahara is a part of 11 countries that includes Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, and Egypt. The boundaries of the Sahara are the Atlantic Ocean on the west side, the Atlas Mountains and the Mediterranean in the north, the Red Sea in the east, and finally Sudan and the valley of the Niger River in the south. As for the civilizations that had occupied the Sahara in the past, most of the populations had lived on the outer limits of the Sahara as those provided the best access to the necessary materials and trade routes to other civilizations. A few examples of such societies were the Egyptians, Phoenicians, and the Nubians. In the present, the Sahara is still sparsely populated with most people living in the outer regions and Arabic being the main language due to large Islamic influence.

Flora and Fauna

The flora and fauna of the Sahara desert lacks the diversity created in many other land masses of such a great size. The desert soil is low in organic matter, often making it biologically inactive. Scattered grasses, as well as shrubs and trees in the highlands are the main flora inhabiting the Sahara. Many of these plants have adapted to their surroundings so well that; when the rare rainfalls do come, they germinate within 3 days and sow their seeds within two weeks in order to take full advantage of the rainfall. The Sahara is scattered with over 300 different types of birds. As wells as land animals such as the Gazelles, Sand Foxes, Badgers, Weasels, Antelopes and Hyenas. Due to the relatively in hospitable conditions of this extremely dry area, the animals that live within the borders of the Sahara have made extreme adaptations. Many animals do not drink at all; their immune system is able to process on only the water from the food they eat. Many reptiles living within the Sahara are nocturnal and feed on the abundance of small prey such as gerbils and jerboas. Every species that is able to thrive within the harsh conditions of the Sahara have made remarkable adaptations to do so.

Climate

The Sahara is one of the hottest and driest regions in the world, receiving less than 2.5 cm of rainfall each year, and an average annual temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit. During the hottest months of the year temperatures can exceed 122 degrees Fahrenheit, and in Aziziyah, Libya, the highest temperature ever recorded in the desert was 136 degrees Fahrenheit. The only permanent river in the desert is the Nile River, however other water sources can come from aquifers below the desert, and where these aquifers reach the surface there are small towns or settlements and even oases. The Sahara is located in northern Africa and covers 10% of the continent. The approximate size of the desert itself is 3,500,000 square miles, stretching from the Red Sea to the east, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its northern boundary is the Mediterranean Sea, and stretches south to the Sahel area of Africa where the landscape turns into a semi-arid tropical savanna. Much of the Sahara’s landscape has been shaped by wind, and about 25% of the desert is made up of sand dunes with some dunes reaching over 500ft in height. The rest of the desert is made up of ergs (sand seas), dry valleys, salt flats, gravel plains, barren-stone plateaus, and mountain ranges. The highest point of the desert is located in the Tibetsi Range in northern Chad, and is Emi Koussi, a shield volcano that reaches 11,204ft at its peak. Egypt’s Qattera Depression is the lowest point of the Sahara desert located -436ft below sea level.

http://geography.about.com/od/locateplacesworldwide/a/saharadesert.htm
http://www.sahara-online.net/eng/Geography/FaunaFlora.aspx

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Mont Blanc
By: Anna Taylor, Amanda Barnum, and Shantydra Arnold

It can not be argued that the Alps are truly breathtaking, but perhaps the most majestic peak is Mont Blanc. Translated into English, Mont Blanc means “White Mountain”.
Standing at a staggering 15,782 feet, Mont Blanc is the tallest mountain in Western Europe. Located on the border of Italy and France, this mountain was first climbed in 1786 by Jaques Balmet and Michel Gabriel. Despite the fact the mountain’s current height is measured at 15,782 feet, it has been known to change due to the height of the snow cap on top. The rock summit is actually only 15,720 feet tall, around 60 feet below the snow cap.

When it comes to Mont Blanc’s climate, it follows the same pattern as North America, meaning it is warmest in July and coolest in January. However, there are some differences. August is Mont Blanc’s wettest month and April is the driest. Another difference is even at its warmest, the mountain only reaches around 75 degrees at the base.
Mont Blanc has many different levels, allowing for different types of vegetation. One level, called the subalpine level, is where the conifer forest, including spruce and larch, is abundant. The alpine level, which is higher up, is characterized by meadowland. As the level gets higher it thins and develops into the nival level, above the perennial snow. It is important to not that there’s a sub-forest level within the subalpine level. In the sub-forest area, some of the most visible and beautiful plants are the slipper orchid, the martagon lily, and the aquilegia alpine. There are also a few rare plants that can be found on the nival level. Two specific plants broke a height record on this uppermost level; they were the Ranunculus Glacialis and the Saxifraga, each containing flowers.
Mont Blanc is popular tourist attraction. Tourists generally stay in one of the three towns at the base of mountain. The towns are Courmayeur in Aosta Valley, Italy, and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and Chamonix in Haute-Savoie, France. In the winter, tourists enjoy Mont Blanc’s slopes from a pair of skis. Skiing options include downhill, cross country or Nordic skiing. There are also specialized snowboarding parks. In the summer, tourists hike, bike, and climb the mountain. Each year, approximately 20,000 people climb to the summit. Mont Blanc claims an average of 100 of those lives each year. There are many routes used to climb to the summit of Mont Blanc. The most popular route is the Voie Des Cristalliers, also known as the Voie Royale. Another popular route is La Voie Des 3 Monts, also known as La Traversee. Other activities include paragliding, white water rafting, canyoning, and ice skating. Less adventuresome activities include going the spa and shopping in town.

http://www.italythisway.com/places/mont-blanc.php
http://www.rei.com/adventures/trips/europe/alps.html

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The Mediterranean Sea
Prisca ROYS-DOSSOU

The mediterranean sea is an intercontinental sea. Mediterranean signifie ‘‘in the middle of the land’’. In fact this sea is surrounded by Africa on the south, Asia on the east and Europe on the north. Theses surronded countries are called the Mediterranean Region.

Today, twenty-two modern states have a coastline on the mediterranean sea:
- Europe: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia , Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece and Turkey (East Thrace).
Asia : Turkey (Anatolia), Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Egypt.
Africa: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco

The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through The strait of Gibraltar and cover and approximate area of 2.5 million km². The strait of Gibraltar it is only 14km wide.

Several ancient civilisations were located around the mediterranean shores. Throughout history the Mediterranean sea had a major influence on cultures from the meiterranean region. Besides, the merditerranean sea was a routes for trade and provided food by fishing and other seafood.
Sharing the same climate and having access to a common sea to numerous historical and cultural connection between the different ancient and modern societies along the coast line. For example, during the antiquity the Greek people and the phoenicians exchanged a lot.
In the Mediterranean sea is populated with several marine mammals species, in fact 19 species of cetaceans can be encountered. Besides, in recent decades, some new species from the tropical atlantic have been notice, in fact this is due to the warming trend of the water in the mediterranean due to the global warming.

Along the coastline, the climate is warm in winter and hot in summer. This combination of nice weather, amazing landscape and rich history make this region one of the most popular tourist destination in the world. Tourism is one of the most important sources of income for many countries of the mediterranean region. Here is some cities specialy design for tourism: Barcelona, Spain; Marseille, France; Limassol, Cyprus; Alexandria, Egypt; Tunis, Tunisia etc…

However, tourism is also one of the main cause of degradtion of the coastal and marine environnement. In order, to be able to to support the large numbers of tourist visiting the region each year the governments encourage a rapid developpement of coastlines .The rapid developement of the coastline is a serious threat for the environnement and had cause for example, erosion and pollution along the coast line.

Tourism is not the only threat for the Mediterranean sea, in fact this region contain some of the world’s busiest shipping route. The discharge of chemical tank washings and oily wastes represent a significant source of marine pollution. On the other, fishs stock levels in this region are dramatically low. Overfishing has been notice in this region. The European Environment Agency says that over 65% of all fish stocks in the region are outside safe biological limits.

To conclude the mediterranean sea is an important economical ressources , through tourism fishing and shipping, and political consideration for the inhabitant of mediterranean region. However, it is submit to ecological threat that distroy the coastline.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/places/parks-and-nature-places/oceans/oceans-mediterranean/

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Mediterranean_Sea

Tourism; Nice, a on the Mediterranean coastline
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAk0QYtk62s&feature=related

The Great Barrier Reef – Ryan Ihle

The Great Barrier Reef is the World’s largest reef system, and Australia’s number one tourist destination. It has been listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and is the only living organism visible from outer space. The gathering of different corals presents a dazzling, breathtaking experience for anyone who is lucky enough to witness it.
The reef is located off the north eastern coast of the continent, stretching from Cape York to Bundaberg, two cities in the state of Queensland. The World Heritage listed natural formation stretches over 2600 kilometres (1400 miles) and ranging from 15km to 150km off shore, contains over 900 islands; more than 100 that are inhabited. The reef also spreads over 344 400 square kilometres, larger than the area of Finland.

Scientists believe that when the ice polar caps started to melt roughly 1.2 million years ago, the sea levels drastically rose, which in turn flooded the continental shelf off of the north eastern coast of Australia. The corals living on the edges of the shelf adapted to the varying rising water levels that it formed what is now none today as the Great Barrier Reef. This did not happen quickly though, with studies showing the growth occurring in a time frame of 50 000 to 100 000 years.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to a very vast amount of unique organisms. Not only does it host the largest assemblage of coral (more than 400 different species), but it also has over 1500 species of tropical fish, various coral sponges, molluscs, giant clams, dolphins, rays, sea turtles and snakes, and over 200 types of birds calling the reef their home. All of these organisms live off the wide range of habitats the reef has to offer, including extensive areas of mangroves, seagrasses, seabed communities, deep waters and island ecosystems.
With the effects of global warming and the melting of the ice caps today, the water is again on the rise. This has a negative effect on the Great Barrier Reef because the corals that form the reef need clean and warm shallow water to live in. As the water levels deepen, the sun cannot reach the coral and the organisms cannot thrive in their usual conditions. This will have a detrimental effect on the reef’s ecosystem as they will either begin to die off or relocate to other areas of the world. For some animals, such as the endangered dugong, this is not an option as the reef is it’s only natural habitat on earth.