Geography
A:
Any body of salt water or brackish water that is a shallow separation from the rest of the sea is considered a lagoon, and they form when sand banks or reefs build up along shallow waters near the coast or when coral reefs grow on central islands that are sinking. Estuaries, or fresh water streams, feed the lagoons as they grow.
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Q: How many countries are in Africa?
A: There are 54 fully recognized states in Africa. Africa is the second-largest continent in both size and population. It measures 11.7 million square miles and is home to 1.1 billion citizens. -
Q: What is the location of Mout Kilimanjaro?
A: Mount Kilimanjaro is located on the border of Tanzania and Kenya, 3 degrees south of the Equator. It is the highest mountain in Africa and is a dormant volcano. -
Q: Why does the Nile River flow north?
A: The Nile River flows north because north is downhill for the topography of the region where the Nile is located. Contrary to popular belief, there is no pull within the earth that causes rivers to flow south. Also contrary to popular belief, cardinal directions are only terms of orientation. They do not indicate topography or elevation. -
Q: What can you eat in the desert?
A: There are some edible plants, seeds and fruits that can be foraged from most desert climates, including fruits that grow on cacti. However, many of these foods, including stinging nettle and prickly pear, have sharp stings, hairs or spikes and need to be cooked before they are safe to eat. -
Q: How many African countries are there?
A: As of 2014, Africa has 54 countries. The largest country by area is Algeria, while the most populous country is Nigeria. African countries can be divided by location into the following regions: Northern Africa, the Horn of Africa, Eastern Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa and Western Africa. -
Q: How did Madagascar get its name?
A: Early Portuguese explorers gave Madagascar its name because of reports by Marco Polo of an island by that name, although it was most likely not the same island. The native inhabitants of Madagascar are called the Malagasy. - See More Africa Questions
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Q: Where is Antarctica located?
A: Antarctica is the ice-covered continent that surrounds the South Pole and is itself surrounded by the Southern Ocean. It is the fifth largest land mass on the planet. -
Q: Who first discovered Antarctica?
A: The first explorer to gather evidence of Antarctica's existence was Captain James Cook between 1772 and 1775. It was not until subsequent expeditions (1819-1820) by William Smith and James Bransfield that the shore was sighted. It was another year before the American Captain John Davis actually landed on the continent. -
Q: When does Antarctica have its shortest days and longest nights?
A: Antarctica has 24 hours of sunlight every year on December 21, when it is tilted towards the sun. The longest night, with 24 hours of darkness, in Antarctica happens when this southernmost continent is tilted away from the sun. -
Q: What animals live at the North Pole?
A: Many animals live at the North Pole, commonly referred to as the Arctic region, including arctic foxes, arctic hares, Alaskan malamutes, polar bears, seals and beluga whales. Some animals live closer to the bottom of the Arctic region, like malamutes, while others live close to the physical North Pole like polar bears, seals and whales. -
Q: Who are the primary consumers of the tundra?
A: The tundra's primary consumers are herbivores such as musk oxen, lemmings, caribou and arctic hares that consume grass, moss and lichen. These animals provide food for the secondary consumers, which are predators like arctic foxes and polar bears. -
Q: What is the climate like in Antarctica?
A: The climate in Antarctica is extremely cold with very little precipitation. The coldest ever temperature to be recorded on Earth was -128.56 degrees Fahrenheit in Antarctica at Vostok Station. - See More Antarctica Questions
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Q: What is Asia's archipelago?
A: The archipelago of Asia forms the largest group of islands in the world and is called the Malay Archipelago. The archipelago is made up of 17,000 islands belonging to Indonesia, 7,000 belonging to the Philippines and the island of New Guinea. -
Q: On which continent is Iraq located?
A: Iraq is located on the continent of Asia. It is a part of the Middle East, a region of Asia and North Africa that nurtured some of the oldest human cultures on the planet. -
Q: What is the climate of Turkey?
A: Turkey has an overall temperate climate, but since it is located in a geographically diverse area, it contains several different climate regions. Coastal regions have milder weather throughout the year than the more arid interior, especially when compared to the Anatolian plateau. -
Q: What are some facts about the capital of South Korea?
A: Some facts about the capital of Korea or Seoul, South Korea are that it's the largest city in South Korea and that it is considered a mega city because it has a population over 10 million. The population was 10,208,302 as of 2009. Seoul covers an area of 233.7 square miles and has an average elevation of 282 feet. -
Q: Where is Arabia?
A: Arabia, also known as the Arabian Peninsula, is located on the Asian continent, just across the Red Sea from Egypt. It is bounded by the Persian Gulf on the northeast and the Arabian Sea to the south. -
Q: How long are South Korean school days?
A: South Korea is known for their education system, which includes very long days of up to (or over) 12 hours. Because of intense competition and cultural factors, high school students are encouraged to do schooling beyond the typical 8am-4pm schedule. - See More Asia Questions
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Q: Which continent is Australia in?
A: Australia is both a country and a continent. It is the sixth largest country in terms of land area and is the only large country that is completely surrounded by water. Australia is slightly smaller than the United States. -
Q: What is the oldest city in Australia?
A: Sydney is Australia's oldest and largest city. New South Wales, where Sydney is located, is Australia's oldest state and was founded in 1788 by Captain John Phillips as a penal colony at Port Jackson. Over a third of Australia's entire population resides in New South Wales, according to About.com. -
Q: Did Australians invent the boomerang?
A: Though boomerangs are iconically associated with Australian Aboriginal peoples, it's difficult to know exactly when and where this tool originated. Ancient humans used boomerangs for thousands of years before the advent of more modern tools. The oldest-known boomerang is thought to be about 20,000 years old and was actually found in Poland. -
Q: What two oceans touch Australia?
A: Both the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean touch Australia. The Pacific Ocean is mostly to the east and south, and the Indian Ocean is mostly to the west. -
Q: What oceans surround Australia?
A: Australia is surrounded by the Pacific, Southern and Indian Oceans. The Timor, Tasman and Coral Seas also lie on the outside of the country. -
Q: Does it snow in Australia?
A: Snow falls in parts of southern Australia, particularly in the mountains. Snowfall is common during the winter in parts of Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. Only Tasmania regularly receives snowfall outside of mountainous areas. - See More Australia Questions
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