SOL Regions Overview

1. SOL Regions Overview

2. United States/Canada

3. Physical features Canadian Shield: flat, rocky area around the Hudson Bay Rocky Mountains: tallest mountain range (Western U.S./Canada) Continental Divide: Point in the Rockies where the rivers change direction. Piedmont: Foot of the Mountain (Appalachian)

4. Mississippi River ends in the Gulf of Mexico The Rio Grande River makes up part of the U.S/Mexico border St. Lawrence River makes up part of U.S./Canadian border

5. Cultural Characteristics • Colonized by Europeans • Very Multicultural Society • Developed Countries (high literacy rates, high standard of living, highly urbanized) • Canada struggles to maintain a national identity – French and English both spoken • Unfortified border between U.S./Canada • Democratic governments • Both members of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) w/ Mexico

6. Economic Characteristics • Major exporters of technology, consumer goods, foodstuffs, information systems • Highly developed infrastructures • Diversified economies (primary, secondary, and tertiary levels) – majority employed in tertiary activities • Mineral, energy, forest resources • New York Stock Exchange – center of world financial markets • Widening gap between rich and poor • U.S. culture has spread throughout the globe.

7. Latin America

8. Physical Features • Seasons reversed south of the equator • Pampas: grasslands in Argentine • Llanos: grasslands in Colombia and Venezuela • Tropical climates predominant • Volcanoes and Earthquakes common natural disasters (along Ring of Fire) • Vertical Zonation Tierra Fria(11,500) “Cold Land” – Potatoes, Apples, Wheat Tierra Templada (6,000-6,500ft) “Temperate Land” – corn, coffee beans, Wheat, Citrus Fruit Tierra Caliente (2,500-3,000 ft) “Hot Land” – rice, sugar cane, rubber, bananas, cocoa

9. Cultural Characteristics • Indian Civilizations (Inca, Aztec, Maya) • African traditions because of slave trade • European influence because of colonization • Roman Catholic Religion dominant • Rigid Social Structure during colonization (Colonists at top, mestizos in middle, natives at the bottom • Mestizo: person of mixed European and native descent. • Settlements located near the coast in S. America • Rapid population grown, move to cities and squatter settlements • Spanish spoken in most of Latin America – Portuguese spoken in Brazil

10. Economic Characteristics • Subsistence Agriculture (self-sufficient agriculture) • Plantation Agriculture (haciendas) – large farms that grow cash crops • Slash and Burn Agriculture/Deforestation – cutting down rainforest for farmland. • Ecuador, Venezuala, and Mexico have large oil resources • Mexico City suffering from heavy pollution. Very smoggy! • Big gap between rich and poor • Mexico a member of NAFTA • Diverse mineral resources: copper in Chile, Iron ore in Venezuela and Brazil

11. Europe

12. Physical Features • Europe is a huge peninsula made up of peninsulas (Iberian, Balkan, Scandinavian, Jutland, Italian) • Ural Mountains separate the European continent from the Asian continent (Eurasia) • The Urals go through Russia • North Atlantic Drift (warm ocean current) provides Europe with a more moderate climate than Canada at the same latitude

13. Cultural Characteristics • Europe has MANY different ethnic groups, languages, and cultures • High population density – many people live in cities • Historic conflict among groups (revolutions, wars) • Birthplace of Western Democracy – Athens, Greece and Rome, Italy • Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution – London, England • European culture has spread throughout the world • History of Imperialism (exerting control over other countries) • Many countries are members of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) will the United States and Canada. NATO is a military/political alliance made after World War II

14. Economic Characteristics • Mountainous regions (Alps) good for tourism, recreation, and mining • Black Forest (Germany), Venice, Italy and rivers (Rhine, Seine, and Danube) are all threatened by pollution • Ruhr and Po Valleys are industrial centers because of mineral resources • Oil reserves found in the North Sea • Chernozem (black earth – very fertile soil) allows for good harvests • The Chunnel (underwater tunnel) connects Britain to France • Many countries members of the EU (European Union) – an economic union. • Well developed infrastructure and educated workforce • Western Europe better off economically than Eastern Europe

15. Economic Characteristics ctnd. • Governments very involved in welfare systems and healthcare • Countries interdependent on one another – trade very important • Reclaimed land from the sea (POLDERS) in Netherlands • Most European countries are considered developed (Eastern Europe struggles more though because of history under the Soviet Union)

16. Russia and Central Asia

17. Physical Features • Russia is the world’s largest country – located on two continents (Europe and Asia) • Spans 11 time zones • Large areas of tundra, permafrost, taiga, and steppe • Chernozem soil also found here along with the Fertile Triangle which is good for growing wheat • Ural Mountains – divide Europe from Asia (Siberia is east of the Ural Mountains) • Major oil, natural gas, and mineral resources but they are difficult to get to.

18. Cultural Characteristics • Diverse ethnic groups and customs (From Turkic and Mongol heritage) • Russian Ballet famous • Faberge eggs (decorative eggs originally made for czars) • Russian Orthodox (Form of Christianity) the main religion. Islam is also prominent in Central Asia • Matrioshka dolls and Oriental rugs also a part of the culture.

19. Economic Characteristics • Still going through the transition from a communist to a free market economy (this has been difficult!) • Trans-Siberian Railroad – the largest in the world. Many rivers and canals for trade and transportation as well. • Canals and shipping lanes often freeze in the winter making trade difficult • Widespread pollution (partly because Soviet government did not regulate) • Aral Sea is shrinking because water is being used to irrigate cotton fields • Natural resources not fully developed or taken advantage of because of the vastness of land and often cold weather.

20. N. Africa/SW Asia (Middle East)

21. Physical Features • Crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia (important for trade) • Desert and Semiarid climates for the most part • Sahara Desert – largest desert in the world • Nile River – longest river in the world • Sahel – area south of Sahara that is becoming like desert • Alluvial soils – good for agriculture • Wadis – dried up stream beds (fill up when it rains) • Rivers seasonally flood during rainy season (controlled by dams) • Oasis: fertile, green spots in the desert

22. Cultural Characteristics • Rapid Urbanization – big city growth • City life is modern but rural areas are VERY traditional • Large population under age of 15 (low life expectancy, high birth rate) • Population unevenly distributed. Few live in the desert – most live near water (along coast line or near rivers) • Birthplace of 3 monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism) • Art reflects religious diversity (Stained glass, mosaics, prayer rugs, etc.) • Conflict between Muslims and Jews over Palestine (former name of Israel) • Jerusalem also important to Muslims, Jews, and Christians • Mosques located throughout because of Islam • Many ancient walled cities (walls used for protection)

23. Economic Characteristics • Primary economic activities (agriculture, oil drilling, herding animals) • Major producer of oil – dependent on it • Water most precious resource because it is scarce • Big gap between rich and poor – most very poverty stricken • Aswan High Dam built on Nile (controls flooding but as caused more disease, less soil fertility, and forced people to relocate) • Many members of OPEC (Org. of Petroleum Exporting Countries) • Suez Canal connects Mediterranean to Red Sea – important for shipping • Many regional conflicts • Guest workers come for oil benefits

24. Sub Saharan Africa

25. Physical Features • Composed of huge plateaus and escarpments (steep side of plateau) • River transportation difficult because of many waterfalls and rapids • Equator runs through the area (climate regions mirror each other along equator) • Smooth coastline with few natural harbors • Slash and Burn farming an issue because rainforest soil not very fertile • Many landlocked countries (which hurts economy – harder to trade) • Nature preserves and wildlife parks (Savannas) • Mt. Kilimanjaro the highest peak

26. Cultural Characteristics • Many ethnic groups – conflicts caused because of borders created by European powers during Imperialism • Uneven population distribution • Few cities over 1 million people – many live in rural villages • History passed down through Oral Tradition • Many country names taken from former empires (Mali, Ghana, Zimbabwe) • History of Apartheid (Separation of blacks and whites) in S. Africa • Diversity of language, culture, and ethnicity seen in art (African masks, music, paintings, dance, sculptures)

27. Economic Characteristics • Many people work in agriculture (subsistence agriculture, slash and burn, plantation farming, nomadic herding) • Infrastructures are very poorly developed and governments often corrupt • A “Rich” continent because it has a lot of mineral wealth (most people not wealthy though) • Population is growing but productivity lags behinds (partly because of diseases like AIDS) • Most countries are developing (low life expectancy, low income, high death rate, high birth rate)

28. South, Southeast, and East Asia

29. Physical Features • Mountains influence settlement patterns (less dense in mountains) • Terraced farming • Climate ranges from Tropical wet to Humid Continental • Volcanoes and earthquakes typical along the Ring of Fire • Typhoons in Pacific Ocean, Cyclones in Indian Ocean • Monsoons common in Asia – summer monsoons bring rains and floods • A lot of arable land – good for farming • Loess – fertile, yellow soil in China

30. Cultural Characteristics • Some areas very densely populated, others very sparse • Urban areas modern and rural areas very traditional • Religious Diversity: Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Confucianism (philosophy), Shinto • Caste system in India (Hindu) –Strict social structure, still somewhat followed today. • Great respect for ancestors • Religious/Political Conflict: Hindus and Muslims fighting over Kashmir in Pakistan and India

31. Economic Characteristics • Varied economies: Subsistence agriculture for some all the way up to very high tech industry and innovation for others • Asia participated in global markets • Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore newly industrialized • Japan the economic leader • Agricultural advancements because of use of fertilizers, pesticides, etc. have led to greater production – called the “Green Revolution” • Rice and tropical crops major cash crops • Fishing also important to the region • Pollution and deforestation also an issue

32. Australia Oceania and Antarctica

33. Physical Features • Vegetation ranges from Tropical Wet to Desert (1/3 of Australia is desert though) • The Great Dividing Range has the largest mountains in Australia (none taller than 5000 feet) – Australia is very flat • The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world • Australia’s isolation has caused unique animal life (kangaroos, wombats, etc.) • Antarctica is the coldest, driest, windiest continent • Pacific islands made from volcanoes (high islands) or coral reefs (low islands)

34. Cultural Characteristics • Pacific Islands are sparsely population • Most of Australia’s population lives near the coast (hardly any in the desert and outback) • Traditional cultures very strong in the Pacific Islands • Lifestyles range from subsistence farming to modern city living • European influences because of colonization • Native cultures also play a major role (Aborigine = Australian Native and Maori – New Zealand Native) • Antarctica has no permanent residences. It has been set aside as a scientific reserve (Antarctic Treaty System)

35. Economic Characteristics • Air and Water travel important for trade because of island nations • Dry areas of Australia good for cattle and sheep farming. • Environmental balance upset because non-native plants and animals have been introduced to the area • Ranching and Mining are the primary economic activities