Illustrated Geography
Here are some pretty amazing facts
that have to do with geography. There's tons more to be known about each of
these places, too. Read through these paragraphs, look up more information on
any of them that you'd like, and then pick your favorite fact.
Now illustrate it. Make your
illustration on paper with colored pencil or paints. You can print the fun fact
underneath, like a caption. You could start a notebook of "illustrated
geography," in which you combine knowledge of the places on Earth with your art
talent, to make it come alive.
For example, you could spell out
"Brazil" with sketches of Brazil nuts forming the letters.
Alaska
More than half of the coastline of the entire United States is in Alaska.
Amazon
The Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% of the world's oxygen supply.
The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean that, more
than 100 miles at sea off the mouth of the river, one can dip fresh water out
of the ocean. The volume of water in the Amazon River is greater than the next eight
largest rivers in the world combined, and three times the flow of all rivers in
the United States.
Antarctica
Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country. Ninety
percent of the world's ice covers Antarctica. This ice also represents
70% of all the fresh water in the world. As strange as it sounds, however,
Antarctica is essentially a desert. The average yearly total precipitation is about two inches.
Although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it), Antarctica is the driest
place on the planet, with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.
Brazil
Brazil got its name from the nut, not the other way around.
Canada
Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined. Canada is an
Indian word meaning "Big Village."
Chicago
Next to Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population in the world.
Detroit
Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan carries the designation M-1. It was the
first paved road anywhere.
Damascus, Syria
Damascus, Syria, was flourishing a couple of thousand years before Rome was
founded in 753 BC, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in
existence.
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey is the only city in the world located on two continents. (Name
those two continents!)
Los Angeles
Los Angeles's full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles
de Porciuncula -- and its familiar abbreviation is just 4% as long as its
formal name: L.A.
New York City
The term "The Big Apple" was coined by touring jazz musicians of the
1930's who used the slang expression "apple" for any town or city.
Therefore, to have a musical engagement in New York City is to play the big
time -- The Big Apple. There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, Ireland;
more Italians in New York City than in Rome, Italy; and more Jews in New York
City than in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Ohio
There are no natural lakes in the state of Ohio; every one is manmade.
Pitcairn Island
The smallest island with status as a country is Pitcairn Island in Polynesia,
at just 1.75 square miles or 4.53 square kilometers.
Rome
The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was Rome, Italy in 133
B.C. There is a city called Rome on
every continent.
Siberia
Siberia contains more than 25% of the world's forests.
S.M.O.M.
The actual smallest sovereign entity in the world is the Sovereign Military
Order of Malta (S.M.O.M.). It is located in the city of Rome, Italy, has an area
of two tennis courts, and as of 2001 has a population of 80 - which is 20 fewer
people than the Vatican. It is a sovereign entity under international
law, just as the Vatican is.
Sahara Desert
In the Sahara Desert, there is a town named Tidikelt, which did not receive a
drop of rain for ten years. Technically though, the driest place on Earth is in
the valleys of the Antarctic near Ross Island. Scientists think there has been
no rainfall there for two million years.
Spain
Spain literally means "the land of rabbits."
St. Paul, Minnesota
St. Paul, Minnesota was originally called Pig's Eye after a man named Pierre
"Pig's Eye" Parrant, who set up the first business there.
Roads
Chances that a road is unpaved in the U.S.A.: 1%. In Canada: 75%.
Texas
The deepest hole ever made in the world is in Texas. It is as deep as 20 empire
state buildings but only 3 inches wide. Question: does it have something to do
with oil?
United States
The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every five must be
straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war
or other emergencies.
Waterfalls
The water of Angel Falls (the world's highest) in Venezuela drops 3,212 feet
(979 meters). That's 15 times higher than Niagara Falls.
By Susan Darst Williams • www.GoBigEd.com • After School
Treats 016 • © 2006
