Rivers, mountains and laakes of Ireland

Japan Where Is It? Japan is made up of a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is just off the east coast of Asia. Japan has four main islands and thousands of smaller islands. The entire country is smaller than the state of California. Tokyo (TOH-kee-yoh) is the capital city of Japan. It is on the largest island, called Honshu (HON-shoo). Tokyo has many tall skyscrapers. More than thirty-two million people live there. People. More than 127 million people live in Japan. The country's main language is Japanese. More people live in cities and towns than in the country. City life in Japan is very busy. Most cities have little space, and people are crowded together. Most people in Japan eat rice. Japan grows much of the rice it uses. The Japanese also catch many fish and sell them across the world. Land. Most of Japan is covered with mountains. The country has more than seventy volcanoes. The most famous one is Mount Fuji (FOO-jee). It has not erupted in many years. Earthquakes are also common. The land near the coast is the only flat land in Japan. Japan's biggest cities are on the coasts. The country has many rivers and lakes. History. Japan is thousands of years old. Ancient Japanese and Chinese people traded things and ideas. Some experts think that Japan learned to grow rice from China. Japanese writing even borrows from Chinese writing. In the past, Japan was an empire. It was ruled by emperors. Later, powerful military leaders called shoguns (SHOH-guns) took control away from the emperors. Samurai (SA-muh-rye) warriors also had power. The samurai were known as brave and skilled fighters. Celebrations. The Japanese New Year is an important holiday in Japan. It starts a week before the first day of January. People send cards for the New Year's holiday. They also clean their homes, and children often get gifts. Food. Rice is an important food in Japan. It is eaten at most meals. Noodles are also served with some meals. Another important food is fish. Japanese people sometimes eat raw fish called sushi (SOO-shee). Conclusion. Japan is a small island country, yet it has many people. It has tall mountains and volcanoes. It also has crowded cities with skyscrapers. Japan is a mix of many things-old and new, large and small.

A. Hiking in Finland I've just come back from Finland. My friends from university invited me to join them on an eight-day hike. The walk is called the Bear Trail and it is in the Oulanka National Park in north-eastern Finland. It's a beautiful walk through forests and across rivers and lakes. We stayed at campsites and carried clothes, food and tents on our backs. I'm not the fittest person in the world but I was able to finish. I loved the incredibly clear air, the beautiful views and the sounds of nature. In my opinion, it is perfect for anyone who wants to start long distance walking as it is almost completely flat and well-signposted. Just try not to fill your backpack up with things which you won't need. B. Camino di Santiago It was the walk of a lifetime. Eight hundred kilometres from the south of France, over the Pyrenees mountains and across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. It all started so well. The path up to the Pyrenees was magical and it was good to meet other people doing the same walk. Everyone was enthusiastic about the walk ahead. But in Spain, the route often followed roads. It was noisy and monotonous, with unchanging views for hours and hours. More and more people joined the walk. They were generally friendly but it wasn't the experience I expected. I'd like to go back to the Pyrenees and hike there again but I'll stop there next time. C. The GR20, Corsica Corsica is a magnificent island with some wonderfully picturesque walks along the coast and inland. But for walkers, it is famous for the GR20, Europe's most difficult long distance walk. It goes from north to south and up and down from two hundred metres to over 2,200 metres above sea level. The frighteningly steep and rocky paths are beautiful but very demanding. Our guides will help you to complete the whole 180 km in fifteen days. The price includes transport, accommodation in tents and food. You should be in good health with experience of mountain walking and a good head for heights. No climbing experience is necessary.

Lesson 1: Continental Drift Theory and the Evidences that support the Theory Continental drift describes one of the earliest ways geologists thought continents moved over time. Today, the theory of continental drift has been replaced by the science of plate tectonics. The theory of continental drift is most associated with the scientist Alfred Wegener. In the early 20th century, Wegener published a paper explaining his theory that the continental landmasses were “drifting” across the Earth, sometimes plowing through oceans and into each other. He called this movement continental drift. Pangaea Wegener was convinced that all of Earth’s continents were once part of an enormous, single landmass called Pangaea. Wegener, trained as an astronomer, used biology, botany, and geology describe Pangaea and continental drift. For example, fossils of the ancient reptile mesosaurus are only found in southern Africa and South America. Mesosaurus, a freshwater reptile only one meter (3.3 feet) long, could not have swum the Atlantic Ocean. The presence of mesosaurus suggests a single habitat with many lakes and rivers. Wegener also studied plant fossils from the frigid Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard, Norway. These plants were not the hardy specimens adapted to survive in the Arctic climate. These fossils were of tropical plants, which are adapted to a much warmer, more humid environment. The presence of these fossils suggests Svalbard once had a tropical climate. Finally, Wegener studied the stratigraphy of different rocks and mountain ranges. The east coast of South America and the west coast of Africa seem to fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and Wegener discovered their rock layers “fit” just as clearly. South America and Africa were not the only continents with similar geology. Wegener discovered that the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States, for instance, were geologically related to the Caledonian Mountains of Scotland. Pangaea existed about 240 million years ago. By about 200 million years ago, this supercontinent began breaking up. Over millions of years, Pangaea separated into pieces that moved away from one another. These pieces slowly assumed their positions as the continent we recognize today. Today, scientists think that several supercontinents like Pangaea have formed and broken up over the course of the Earth’s lifespan. These include Pannotia, which formed about 600 million years ago, and Rodinia, which existed more than a billion years ago. Tectonic Activity Scientists did not accept Wegener’s theory of continental drift. One of the elements lacking in the theory was the mechanism for how it works—why did the continents drift and what patterns did they follow? Wegener suggested that perhaps the rotation of the Earth caused the continents to shift towards and apart from each other. (It doesn't.) Today, we know that the continents rest on massive slabs of rock called tectonic plates. The plates are always moving and interacting in a process called plate tectonics. The continents are still moving today. Some of the most dynamic sites of tectonic activity are seafloor spreading zones and giant rift valleys. In the process of seafloor spreading, molten rock rises from within the Earth and adds new seafloor (oceanic crust) to the edges of the old. Seafloor spreading is most dynamic along giant underwater mountain ranges known as mid-ocean ridges. As the seafloor grows wider, the continents on opposite sides of the ridge move away from each other. The North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, for example, are separated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The two continents are moving away from each other at the rate of about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) per year. Rift valleys are sites where a continental landmass is ripping itself apart. Africa, for example, will eventually split along the Great Rift Valley system. What is now a single continent will emerge as two—one on the African plate and the other on the smaller Somali plate. The new Somali continent will be mostly oceanic, with the Horn of Africa and Madagascar its largest landmasses. The processes of seafloor spreading, rift valley formation, and subduction (where heavier tectonic plates sink beneath lighter ones) were not well-established until the 1960s. These processes were the main geologic forces behind what Wegener recognized as continental drift.

The Northeast is characterized by its long coast along the Atlantic Ocean, making it a defining landform of the region. There are no deserts or Rocky Mountains in the Northeast, and the Mississippi River does not play a significant role in the region's geography. A sound is a body of water that separates a mainland and an island. For example, Long Island Sound is located between New York and Connecticut. The coastal areas of the Northeast are known for their many islands and attract more visitors and tourists compared to the mountain areas. The mountain areas, on the other hand, are made up of older landforms and ranges such as the Appalachian Mountains. Evidence of glaciers once covering the Northeast includes the numerous lakes and ponds found in the mountain areas, which were left behind after the glaciers receded. The Northeast region’s four largest rivers drain into the Atlantic Ocean. This geographic feature contributed to the development of major cities along the Atlantic coast, as these rivers provided access for transportation and trade. Maple syrup is an example of a forest resource found in the Northeast region. It is made from the sap of sugar maple trees, which thrive in the region’s forests. New Hampshire is nicknamed the Granite State because of its rock quarries, which have been a significant part of the state’s history and economy. Vermont is well-known for its dairy farms, while Massachusetts is famous for its cranberry bogs, which are a unique feature of the state’s agriculture. Snow is considered a resource in the Northeast because it attracts skiers and tourists to states like Vermont, boosting the local economy. Tourism in the Northeast is most directly influenced by attractions such as historic homes in Rhode Island, which showcase the region’s rich history and culture.

France Where Is It? France is a country in Europe. Other countries are to the east. To the south is Spain. The Atlantic Ocean is to the north and to the west. The United Kingdom is to the north. It is across a part of the Atlantic Ocean called the English Channel. Paris is the capital city of France. It is a very famous city. Millions of tourists visit Paris every year. More than ten million people live there. People. More than sixty-six million people live in France. Most people live and work in cities. Some have jobs helping tourists who visit France. Some people live in the countryside and grow food on farms. More than half of the land in France is used for farming. Most people in France speak French. Land. France has many different kinds of land. It has hills, forests, rivers, lakes, and beaches. Most of France is covered with low plains and hills. France also has five mountain ranges. They sit between France and other countries. The highest mountains are in the Alps. History. Long ago, France was called Gaul. Other countries took over Gaul many times. The Romans took it over first, and then the Franks took it from the Romans. France got its name from the Franks. For a long time, France was ruled by powerful kings. Then the French people fought against one king. This was called the French Revolution (1789–1799). Today, France is a democracy. Celebrations People in France celebrate the beginning of the revolution on July 14. They celebrate with fireworks and parades. Food. France is known for its food. One type of food is a long, thin loaf of bread. Many meals have more than one part. A meal may have soup, salad, a main course, and fruit for dessert. Conclusion France is a beautiful country with a long history. It has rolling hills, forests, and mountains. Its food is known around the world. What do you like most about France?

Alaska: A special place Where can you find mountains, glaciers, and volcanoes? Alaska is the location you would visit. Alaska has different regions. In each part of the state, there are different features. Land Features The tallest mountain in the United States is in Alaska. It is called Mt. McKinley. Some people go to Alaska just to climb it. Alaska also has the biggest glaciers in all of the United States. Glaciers are made when one layer of snow falls on top of another. The snowfall becomes very thick. It turns to ice. The growth of a glacier takes many years to form. Temperature Changes Alaska has different temperatures. Northern Alaska is called the Arctic region. The temperatures are much colder than inside your freezer. The ground, lakes, and rivers are almost always frozen. As a result, most people live in the south of Alaska. It is warmer there. Crops grow well in the rich soil there. Animals Alaska has many different animals. You may spot a walrus or polar bear among the glaciers. You can see a black or brown bear fishing in a river or stream. In another region, you can see a moose or caribou. Daylight and Darkness The seasons are special here, too. In summer, people celebrate the mild temperate weather. These lively people also celebrate the sunlight because the sun does not set for many days. In one village, the Sun doesn't set for more than 80 days! You might be in bed and still see the sun shining. In winter, the Sun doesn't rise in some places in Alaska. These places have more than 60 days of winter darkness. You could have afternoon soccer practice in the dark! You might think this would be eerie, but Alaskans don't think this is weird. They are used to the dark winter days. Alaska is a very interesting place to live!

Argentina Where Is It? Argentina is the second-largest country in South America. It is the eighth-largest country in the world. Five countries share borders with Argentina. About forty-three million people live in Argentina. The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires. Its name means "fair winds." About fifteen million people live in Buenos Aires. People. Most people in Argentina live in large cities. Other people live in the country. Some of these people are farmers. They grow crops such as wheat and grapes. Men, women, and children from all over the world live in Argentina. Many people are from Europе. Most people in Argentina speak Spanish. Land. Argentina has mountains, lakes, and rivers. The Andes Mountains are in the west. They are the longest group of mountains in the world. Argentina has many different kinds of animals. Monkeys, wild cats, and many other animals live there. Some of the most beautiful places in Argentina are rivers. Some of the river water falls from very high places. The falls are some of the biggest in the world. History. People have lived in Argentina for thousands of years. Long ago, the Spanish ruled the country. Then, army leaders took control. The army leaders did not let people have any say in their rules. This was unfair for most people. Today, people in Argentina can help make rules. They choose leaders who share their ways of thinking. Celebration. One of the biggest parties in Argentina lasts for days. People dress up as clowns and animals. They have a lot of fun. There is music, dancing, and a big parade. Food. Argentine pies can be filled with lots of different things. A family cooks meat on a grill. People in Argentina eat meat cooked on a grill. They also eat little pies filled with meat, vegetables, or cheese. Conclusion. Argentina is a country with people from all over the world. They help to make it a great place with a bright tomorrow.

hysical features of Southeast Asia The physiography of Southeast Asia has been formed to a large extent by the convergence of three of the Earth’s major crustal units: the Eurasian, Indian-Australian, and Pacific plates. The land has been subjected to a considerable amount of faulting, folding, uplifting, and volcanic activity over geologic time, and much of the region is mountainous. There are marked structural differences between the mainland and insular portions of the region. Mainland Southeast Asia The mainland is characterized by a series of generally north–south-trending mountain ranges separated by a number of major river valleys and their associated deltas. In many ways these ranges resemble ribs in a fan, where the interstices are deep trenches carved by the rivers. Although the mainland as a whole is similar in a structural sense, its various geologic components and the time periods of their orogenic (mountain-building) episodes differ. Much of the region has been affected by the gradual, continuing collision of the Indian subcontinent with the Eurasian Plate over roughly the past 50 million years, an event that—with diminishing intensity from west to east—has been responsible for deforming the land. Nonetheless, mainland Southeast Asia is relatively stable geologically, with no active or recently active volcanoes and, except in the northwest and north, little seismic activity. The ranges fan out southward from the southeastern corner of the Plateau of Tibet, where they are tightly spaced. A major rib of this system extends through the entire western margin of Myanmar (Burma); describing an elongated letter S, it consists of (from north to south) the Pātkai Range, Nāga Hills, Chin Hills, and Arakan Mountains. Farther to the south the same rib emerges from beneath the sea to become the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. Another major system extends along a straight north-south axis from eastern Myanmar east of the Salween River through northwestern Thailand to south of the Isthmus of Kra on the Malay Peninsula. It consists of a series of elongated blocks rather than one continuous ridge. The core of these blocks is granite, which has intruded into previously folded and faulted limestone and sandstone. The altitudes of the ranges diminish from above 8,000 feet (2,440 meters) on the Chinese border in the north to below 4,000 feet on the Isthmus of Kra, and the ranges are spread farther apart toward the south. The easternmost major mountain feature on the mainland is the Annamese Cordillera (Chaîne Annamitique) in Laos and Vietnam. In the portion between Laos and Vietnam, the chain forms a nearly straight spine of ranges from northwest to southeast, with a steep face rising from the South China Sea to the east and a more gradual slope to the west. The mountains thin out considerably south of Laos and become asymmetrical in form. The upland zone is characterized by a number of plateau remnants. The rather neat fanlike pattern of the mountain ranges is interrupted occasionally by several old blocks of strata that have been folded, faulted, and deeply dissected. These ancient massifs now form either low platforms or high plateaus. The westernmost of these, the Shan Plateau of eastern Myanmar, measures some 250 miles (400 km) from north to south and 75 miles from east to west and has an average elevation of about 3,000 feet. The largest of these features is the Korat Plateau in eastern Thailand and west-central Laos. This area actually is more of a low platform, which on average is only a few hundred feet above the floodplains of the surrounding rivers. It consists of a string of hills that direct surface drainage eastward to the Mekong River. The hills range in elevation from 500 to 2,000 feet, with the highest altitudes occurring near the southwestern rim. The broad river valleys between the uplands and the even wider deltas at the southernmost points contain most of the mainland’s lowland areas. These regions generally are covered with alluvial sediments that support much of the mainland’s cultivation and, in turn, most of its population centers. The most extensive coastal lowland is the lower Mekong basin, which encompasses most of Cambodia and southern Vietnam. The Cambodian portion is a broad, bowl-shaped area lying just above sea level, with numerous hill outcrops jutting above the landscape; at its center is a large freshwater lake, the Tonle Sap. To the south the river’s vast, flat delta occupies the entire southern tip of Vietnam. Outside the river deltas, the coastal lowlands are little more than narrow strips between the mountains and the sea, except around the southern half of the Malay Peninsula. The Malay Peninsula stretches south for some 900 miles from the head of the Gulf of Thailand (Siam) to Singapore and thus extends the mainland into insular Southeast Asia. The narrowest point, the Isthmus of Kra (about 40 miles wide), also roughly divides the peninsula into two parts: the long linear mountain ranges of the northern part described above give way just south of the isthmus to blocks of short, parallel ranges aligned north-south, so that the southern portion trends to the southeast and becomes much wider. In areas such as the west coast between southern Thailand and northwestern Malaysia, distinctive karst-limestone landscapes have developed. Peaks on the peninsula range from 5,000 to 7,000 feet in elevation.

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