Mythology geographically speaking…

In order to understand mythology, it is often important to gain background information on the area of its origin. For example, Mt. Olympus, being the tallest mountain the Greek mythology writers encountered, earned the distinction as being the abode of the gods. The sharp contrast between the wet and dry seasons in many parts of the world resulted in rain gods/goddesses that disappeared at a fixed date that marked the beginning of a drought. Geography is one of the most dominating influences that a culture has to endure when writing mythology. Therefore, it is important to understand the geography of a place in order to fully comprehend the meaning or purpose of a myth. The following is a brief description of the information selected to describe each country. *

*Modern countries were used in describing the regions. Because of the overwhelming number of countries present in the world, only some were used. We have tried to use the countries that could most generally describe an area or those that have very strong mythological traditions. We apologize if you cannot find the exact country of your choice. The information used in the following descriptions was gained from:

| West Asia | South and Central Asia | East Asia | Europe | Americas | Africa | Oceania |

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  • West Asia
  • Egypt
    • Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip
    • Geographic coordinates: 27 00 N, 30 00 E
    • Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
    • Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
      • highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
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    • Natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms
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  • Israel
    • Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
    • Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E
    • Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
    • Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
      • highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
    • Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
    • Natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
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  • Syria
    • Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
    • Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 38 00 E
    • Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically hitting Damascus
    • Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
      • highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum
    • Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
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  • Lebanon
    • Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
    • Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
    • Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
    • Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
      • highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m
    • Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region
    • Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
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  • Jordan
    • Location: Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
    • Geographic coordinates: 31 00 N, 36 00 E
    • Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
    • Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
      • highest point: Jabal Ram 1,754 m
    • Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil
    • Natural hazards: NA
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  • Iran
    • Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
    • Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 53 00 E
    • note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
    • Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
    • Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
      • highest point: Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
    • Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast
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  • Iraq
    • Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
    • Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 44 00 E
    • Climate: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
    • Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
      • highest point: Gundah Zhur 3,608 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
    • Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms, floods
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  • Saudi Arabia
    • Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
    • Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
    • Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
    • Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
      • highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
    • Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
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  • Turkey
    • Location: southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
    • Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 35 00 E
    • Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
    • Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central plateau (Anatolia)
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
      • highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m
    • Natural resources: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate, sulfur, iron ore
    • Natural hazards: very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
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  • South and Central Asia
  • India
    • Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
    • Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 77 00 E
    • Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
    • Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
    • Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone
    • Natural hazards: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common; earthquakes
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  • Sri Lanka
    • Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
    • Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 81 00 E
    • Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
    • Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
    • Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay
    • Natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes
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  • Tibet
    • Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
    • Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E
    • Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
    • Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
      • highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
    • Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower potential, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
    • Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
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  • Bangladesh
    • Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
    • Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E
    • Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
    • Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
    • Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber
    • Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season
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  • East Asia
  • Mongolia
    • Location: Northern Asia, between China and Russia
    • Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 105 00 E
    • Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
    • Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
      • highest point: Tavan Bogd Uul 4,374 m
    • Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold
    • Natural hazards: dust storms can occur in the spring; grassland fires
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  • China
    • Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
    • Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E
    • Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
    • Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m
      • highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
    • Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
    • Natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts
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  • Japan
    • Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
    • Geographic coordinates: 36 00 N, 138 00 E
    • Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
    • Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
      • highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m
    • Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish
    • Natural hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis
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  • Russia
    • Location: Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean
    • Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 100 00 E
    • Climate: ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast
    • Terrain: broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
      • highest point: Mount El'brus 5,633 m
    • Natural resources: wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber
    • note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources
    • Natural hazards: permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula
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  • Burma
    • Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
    • Geographic coordinates: 22 00 N, 98 00 E
    • Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
    • Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
      • highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas
    • Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
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  • Thailand
    • Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
    • Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E
    • Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
    • Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
    • Elevation extremes:
      • Lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
      • highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
    • Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite
    • Natural hazards: droughts
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  • Philippines
    • Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
    • Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 122 00 E
    • Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
    • Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
    • Elevation extremes:
      • Lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
      • highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
    • Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
    • Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
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  • Indonesia
    • Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
    • Geographic coordinates: 5 00 S, 120 00 E
    • Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
    • Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
    • Natural hazards: occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes
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  • Europe
  • Greece
    • Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
    • Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E
    • Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
    • Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
      • highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
    • Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble
    • Natural hazards: severe earthquakes
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  • Italy
    • Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
    • Geographic coordinates: 42 50 N, 12 50 E
    • Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
    • Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
      • highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) 4,807 m
    • Natural resources: mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal
    • Natural hazards: regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding
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  • Norway
    • Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
    • Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 10 00 E
    • Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast
    • Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
      • highest point: Glittertinden 2,472 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower
    • Natural hazards: NA
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  • Sweden
    • Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
    • Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E
    • Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
    • Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
      • highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
    • Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower
    • Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia
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  • Finland
    • Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
    • Geographic coordinates: 64 00 N, 26 00 E
    • Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
    • Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
      • highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
    • Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
    • Natural hazards: NA
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  • Germany
    • Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
    • Geographic coordinates: 51 00 N, 9 00 E
    • Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity
    • Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Freepsum Lake -2 m
      • highest point: Zugspitze 2,962 m
    • Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel
    • Natural hazards: flooding
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  • United Kingdom
    • Location: Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France
    • Geographic coordinates: 54 00 N, 2 00 W
    • Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
    • Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Fenland -4 m
      • highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
    • Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica
    • Natural hazards: NA
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  • Ireland
    • Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
    • Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 8 00 W
    • Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
    • Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Carrauntoohill 1,041 m
    • Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
    • Natural hazards: NA
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  • North & South America
  • United States
    •
    • Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
    • Geographic coordinates: 38 00 N, 97 00 W
    • Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
    • Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
      • highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
    • Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
    • Natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding
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  • Mexico
    • Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US
    • Geographic coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W
    • Climate: varies from tropical to desert
    • Terrain: high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
      • highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
    • Natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts
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  • Peru
    • Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
    • Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W
    • Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west
    • Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
    • Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash
    • Natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
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  • Brazil
    • Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
    • Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 55 00 W
    • Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south
    • Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m
    • Natural resources: bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
    • Natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south
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  • Argentina
    • Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
    • Geographic coordinates: 34 00 S, 64 00 W
    • Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
    • Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula Valdes)
      • highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
    • Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
    • Natural hazards: San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding
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  • Chile
    •
    • Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
    • Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W
    • Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
    • Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
    • Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum
    • Natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
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  • Africa
  • Libya
    • Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
    • Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 17 00 E
    • Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
    • Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
      • highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
    • Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
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  • Algeria
    • Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
    • Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 3 00 E
    • Climate: arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
    • Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m
      • highest point: Tahat 3,003 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
    • Natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slides
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  • Angola
    • Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
    • Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E
    • Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
    • Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
    • Natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
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  • Gabon
    • Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
    • Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 11 45 E
    • Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
    • Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore
    • Natural hazards: NA
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  • Nigeria
    • Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
    • Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E
    • Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
    • Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas
    • Natural hazards: periodic droughts
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  • Ethiopia
    • Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
    • Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E
    • Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
    • Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Denakil -125 m
      • highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m
    • Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas
    • Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
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  • Kenya
    • Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
    • Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E
    • Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
    • Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
    • Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife
    • Natural hazards: recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons
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  • Tanzania
    • Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
    • Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 35 00 E
    • Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
    • Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
    • Natural resources: hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
    • Natural hazards: the tsetse fly; flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
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  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
    • Location: Central Africa, northeast of Angola
    • Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 E
    • Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator—wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator—wet season November to March, dry season April to October
    • Terrain: vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
    • Natural resources: cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential, timber
    • Natural hazards: periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity
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  • Sudan
    • Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
    • Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 30 00 E
    • Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October)
    • Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
      • highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
    • Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold
    • Natural hazards: dust storms
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  • Mozambique
    • Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
    • Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S, 35 00 E
    • Climate: tropical to subtropical
    • Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
    • Natural resources: coal, titanium, natural gas
    • Natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and southern provinces; devastating cyclones
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  • South Africa
    • Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
    • Geographic coordinates: 29 00 S, 24 00 E
    • Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
    • Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
    • Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
    • Natural hazards: prolonged droughts
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  • Madagascar
    • Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
    • Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E
    • Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
    • Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
    • Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
    • Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
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  • Oceania
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  • Australia
    • Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
    • Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W
    • Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
    • Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
    • Elevation extremes:
      • lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
      • highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
    • Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum
    • Natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
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