 |
 |
  |
 |
 |
||||
| Question from Greg: | I was wondering how the antipode works. Do you just take the reverse of the latitude and longitude to find it? Also, what is the closest land of any size to the antipode of the UC Berkeley Campanile? | |
| GeoGeek's answer: | The antipode is the point directly opposite a given point on a sphere. The antipode of the North Pole is the South Pole. If you know the latitude and longitude of a given point you can calculate its antipode by choosing the opposite of the latitude and subtracting the longitude from 180° (remembering that a degree has 60 minutes of longitude so that you are subtracting the minutes at Berkeley from 60, not 100). Don't forget to change East to West or West to East to be sure your antipode is in the correct hemisphere. For example, the city of Berkeley, California is at 37°52' North and 122°16' West. The antipode of Berkeley is 37°52' South and 57°44' East, which is in the Indian Ocean. The closest sizable landmass is the island of Madagascar. Note: If you add the longitude of Berkeley, California to the longitude of its antipode you will see that 179°60' is the same as 180° |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Amy: | What is the farthest east that Canada lies? And what is the farthest north that Canada lies? | |
| GeoGeek's answer: | According to The New International Atlas (Rand McNally) the point farthest east in Canada is Cape Spear, very near the town of St. John's, New Foundland, which is located at 52°43' West of the prime meridian at Greenwich, England. The most northern point of Canada is at the tip of Ellesmere Island and is about 83° North of the equator. There is a town very near this point called Alert, which is 82°29' North of the equator. | |
|
|
||
| Question from Joshua: | I am looking for a geography item that starts with an X and ends with a Z. | |
| GeoGeek Lena's answer: | Xaçmaz is a town in Azerbaijan, which is a former republic of the Soviet Union and is now a independent nation. Xaçmaz is located at 41°28' North and 48°48' East, near the Caspian Sea. | |
|
|
||
| Question from Brandy: | I am doing a Biome Project on Irrawaddy River - Myanmar. The focus for this project is native plants and animals found in this part of the world. What are some of the plants and animals that live in this river? And are there some websites to research these from? Thank you! | |
| GeoGeek Ron's answer: | Hummm? Good question, the Irrawaddy is also called the Ayeyarwady River. For photos: http://www.pbase.com/bocavermelha/irrawaddy If you want to narrow your focus, there’s a list of fish species, very technical however at: http://www.mongabay.com/fish/data/ecosystems/Irrawaddy.htm The river is also home to one of the world’s most endangered species, the Irrawaddy Dolphin: http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/O_brevirostris/O_brevirostris.htm Finally, the Meinmahla kyun wildlife sanctuary – Myanmar is at the river’s end as it discharges into the Bay of Bengal: http://www.trekthailand.net/myanmar/parks/meinmahla/ Good luck with your research! |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Galina: | What is the most northern place on Earth called? | |
| GeoGeek Ron's answer: | Ah Ha! That’s the North Pole. Some say it’s where Santa Clause lives, but really it’s the point in the Arctic where you can only head south. The latitude is 90º north. The longitude, well it’s where all lines of longitude converge or come together as they do also at the South Pole. It’s cold at the North Pole too, real cold! http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen99/gen99009.htm | |
|
|
||
| Question from Ted: | Where and what is the significance of Waterford? | |
| GeoGeek Julia's answer: | Waterford is a city, county, and port in Southern Ireland. Waterford was founded by the Vikings in the mid-800s and was Ireland's first official city. It was home to a fort in the 11th century and was invaded and taken over by the English in 1649. Waterford is famous for a type of glass made there in the 18th century. Waterford glass has been revived and is popular today. Waterford is also an important agricultural port today, shipping dairy products and hogs.
Columbia Encyclopedia, 1963. and |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Ted: | Where and what is the significance of Great Bear Lake? | |
| GeoGeek Ron's answer: | Great Bear Lake is in Canada between latitudes 65 and 67 North, and longitudes 117 and 123 West. It's Canada's largest lake and the forth largest in North America. Great Bear Lake crosses the Arctic Circle, BURRRR! ! ! The Arctic Circle rings the globe at latitude 66º 33' 38" North. Very large radium deposits were found at the Great Bear Lake. Radium is radioactive material that human kind has had a very difficult time controlling and using safely. It is used in medicine and to generate power. It is also used to make very destructive weapons. Great Bear Lake http://www.bartleby.com/65/gr/GreatBea.html Arctic Circle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Circle Nuclear power for kids http://uk.oneworld.net/penguin/energy/energy.html |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Ted: | Where and what is the significance of Cologne? | |
| GeoGeek Lindsey's answer: | Cologne is a city in Western Germany. According to Wikipedia, it was established in 50 A.D., making it the oldest major city in Germany. Cologne was one of the many cities nearly destroyed by World War II. The city serves as an important inland port to Europe. It is also important in the banking industry. Cologne's famous landmark is the Cologne cathedral, which is the largest gothic church in northern Europe. The city also gives its name to men's fragrances since Cologne was the first place it was produced for commercial use. For more info check out these sites: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne Encyclopedia Britannica http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article?tocId=9361154&query=cologne&ct |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Ted: | Where and what is the significance of Komodo Island? | |
| GeoGeek Lindsey's answer: | The island of Komodo is located in the western portion of Indonesia in the Pacific Ocean. Unlike the tropical islands surrounding it, Komodo island is rather dry, rocky, and barren. Komodo is famous for its reptile inhabitants, the Komodo dragons. These lizards are the largest in the world and closely related to dinosaurs. In 1980 Komodo National Park was created to save the Komodo dragons along with other natural inhabitants of the island. The park spans over three islands, Komodo, Rinca, and Padar. Learn more and view pictures at: Encyclopedia Britannica http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9045977&query=komodo%20islands&ct Heptune http://www.heptune.com/komodo.html |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Angela: | What are the soil types in Sicily? | |
| GeoGeek's answer: | Sicily has eight dominant soil types. They are: Lithosols, Regosols, Vertisols, Calcareous soils, Andosols, Alluvial soils, Hydromorphic alluvial soils, and Organic soils. Among the eight dominant soil types there are a total of 26 variations. The most common soil type in Sicily is Regosol on clay rocks, the second most common soil type is Lithosol, in all its variations. This information was extrapolated from Carta Dei Suoli Della Sicilia (Soil Map of Sicily) prepared by the Institute of General Agronomy and Herbaceous Cultivation of the University of Palermo, the Union of the Industrial and Agricultural Chambers of Commerce of the Sicilian Region and the Committee for the Soil Map of Italy, 1967. The copy of this map was located in the Earth Sciences Library at the University of California, Berkeley. | |
|
|
||
| Question from Claire: | Where in the world is limestone mostly found? | |
| GeoGeek Nafisah's answer: | Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock. The sediments that make up the rocks are carried by streams and rivers and accumulate mostly on shallow sea floors along continents and also in inland valleys, lakes, and marshes. Limestone is made of a mineral called calcite which comes mainly from marine organisms that has been deposited on ocean floors. Through many geological processes, limestone rocks form and this occurs on all continents. Physical Geography by Alan and Arthur Strahler http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestone |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Ashleigh: | Where and what is the significance of the Denakil Depression? | |
| GeoGeek Mike's answer: | The Denakil Depression is part of the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia, Africa. It is 115m below sea level and is one of the hottest places on earth. It is seismically active which means it has earthquakes and some volcanic activity. Source: Country Studies,on-line versions of books previously published in hard copy by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress as part of the Country Studies/Area Handbook Series http://countrystudies.us/ethiopia/40.htm |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Mike: | What is the location and historical significance of Jidda? | |
| GeoGeek Mike's answer: | Jidda, commonly spelled Jeddah, is a city on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia with a population of 2.3 million. It became important as a port for pilgrims to reach the holy city of Mecca. It is also believed in Islam that the tomb of Eve is located in Jeddah. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jidda |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Bob: | Where is and what is the significance of Kurdistan? |
|
| GeoGeek Mike's answer: | Kurdistan is an area of land covering parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Georgia and Syria. It is an area recognized by Kurds as their historical homeland. Kurdistan was to be a separate country after the break up of the Ottoman Empire but part of the area was conquered by Kemal Ataturk and became part of Turkey while the rest of the area was carved up between Iraq, Iran, Georgia, and Syria. To this day rebel Kurds fight for their country's freedom. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdistan |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Ashleigh: | What is the geography of the Mato Grosso Plateau and what is its significance? | |
| GeoGeek Ron's answer: | The Mato Grosso Plateau is about 84% in the South American country of Brazil. The name means “Thick Grass” or “Thick Forrest.” The plateau is mostly a savanna with scattered trees and grassland between. It is also dotted with mountain peaks such as the Serrania de Santiago, which is the highest at 5,102 feet or 1,555 meters. Water that falls as rain on the Mato Grosso winds its way into the mighty Amazon River, which is to say that it is part of the Watershed of the Amazon River. To modern Brazilian people, the plateau’s main use is to graze cattle and grow crops. Tourism is also part of the economy with adventure and mountain climbing tours and bird watching excursions. In the past, the Xavante Indian Tribe had different uses for the land. Map of Brazil: http://www.nystromnet.biz/images/brazil.pdf |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Ashleigh: | Where is and what is the significance of Lake Eyre? | |
| GeoGeek Lindsey's answer: | Lake Eyre is located in the center, or heart, of Australia; it is about one-sixth the size of the continent. The lake is actually a basin that many rivers drain into; it is the largest basin in the world and the largest lake in Australia. Although the lake hardly contains any water, since most of the water evaporates into the dry air, when there is water, this lake is a stop for migrating birds. The lake is also home to many endangered animals. For more info and great pictures check out these sites: http://www.lakeeyrebasin.org.au/ Lake Eyre National Park website: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/lakeeyre/ |
|
|
|
||
| Question from David: | Where is Owen's Valley and what is its importance? | |
| GeoGeek Lindsey's answer: | Owen’s Valley is located between the Sierra Nevada and Inyo Mountains in Eastern California. The valley is situated at 4,000 ft above sea level, and at the floor of the valley lays Owen’s Lake. A hundred years ago the lake would have been full of water, but today the lake is dry. This is because the river that flowed into the lake now flows down to Los Angeles. In the early 1900s Los Angeles was in need of water for its growing population so it purchased the rights to the river. The city built an aqueduct to carry the river 200 miles to Los Angeles. Today there are many problems associated with the dry Owen’s Lake such as sand storms. Check out more at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owens_Valley A good book about water and Los Angeles and Owen’s Valley is Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner. |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Haley: | Where is Macau and why is it important? | |
| GeoGeek Daniel's answer: | Macau is a city on the west side of the Pearl River Delta in Southern China, about 40 miles west of Hong Kong. Macau was a Portuguese colonial city from the 1500s until 1999 when it was returned to Chinese governance (two years after Hong Kong returned to Chinese governance). It is now known as the Macau Special Administrative Region of China and has some limited autonomy from China. Macau's population is 95% Chinese with the rest being mostly Portuguese or Macanese (mixed Portuuese and Asian). Macau's economy has traditionally been dominated by the textile industry but gambling and tourism are important economic sectors having more impact in post-colonial Macau. For more information about Macau you can visit the The CIA Factbook: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mc.html | |
|
|
||
| Question from one of GeoGeek's friends: | What is Asia's wettest location? | |
| GeoGeek Josh's answer: | The world's record for rainfall is a remote location in India known as the Khasi Hills. Unfortunately, deforestation and other problems may have somehow had effects on that usually dependable rainfall. In July 1861 alone, Cherrapunji had 366 inches of rain. Between August 1860 and July 1861, Cherrapunji got a record 1,042 inches of rain - a world record. But now the annual rainfall there has sharply fallen to less than a third of that. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2977169.stm On a larger scale, the rainforest is the biome that has the overall wettest climate, often exceeding 200 inches\year. The rain forests have a great deal of influence on our weather and atmosphere. The forests absorb harmful carbon dioxide and help supply oxygen in the air. The rain forests are sometime referred to as the "lungs of our world." They also help regulate the flow of water on earth. After heavy tropical rains, the forests soak up the water and release it very slowly into the air. This prevents flooding and droughts for hundreds of miles around. http://wwwedu.ssc.nasa.gov/fad/detail.asp?offset=20&LessonID=99 |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Andrew: | What is the location and significance of the Iditarod? | |
| GeoGeek Julia's answer: | The Iditarod is a dog sled race in Alaska. The course begins in Anchorage, in south central Alaska, and ends to the northwest on the coast of the Bering Sea in Nome. The race stretches 1150 miles and takes between 7 and 10 days. The Iditarod is called “The Last Great Race of Earth.” And the race is great for a number of reasons. First, it is a challenging course. The trail goes over harsh terrain (steep slopes, desolate tundra, forests, and frozen rivers) and often the mushers (the men and women guiding the dogs) have to endure extreme weather. Temperatures are often far below zero. Second, the race attracts many different types of people. The men and women come from all over the world and are very diverse. Third, the race commemorates the frontier spirit. The trail is the historic path used to explore the Alaskan wilderness. You can find out more at the race’s official site: http://www.iditarod.com |
|
|
|
||
| Question from one of GeoGeek's friends: | What is the name of the nation, which is home to the Akdzhak Depression? | |
| GeoGeek Hilary's answer: | I suspect you might mean the town of Ak-Dzhar, also spelled Aqzhar or Akzhar. Ak-Dzhar is located in southwest Kazakhstan, a country in Central Asia. Thank you for your question. Columbia Gazetteer of the World Online: http://www.columbiagazetteer.org |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Jason: | When geographers refer to Europe and Asia as one large mass what name do they use? | |
| GeoGeek Daniel's answer: | The word this geographer uses is Eurasia. According to the Oxford English Dictionary this word dates back at least as far as 1844. While many of what are defined as continents are discrete pieces of land, Europe and Asia are not obviously separated, and the differentiation is more cultural than physical. Most of our geographical definitions come from the West, but if history was different then India might be its own continent while Europe would be part of Eurasia. To see a map of the different major continental plates you can visit this page: http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eastern/plates.html |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Krystal: | Where and what is the significance of the Mariana Trench? | |
| GeoGeek Lindsey's answer: | The Mariana Trench is the deepest trench in the ocean floor. It is located near the Mariana Islands which are east of the Philippines. The trench is about 1,500 miles long and 40 miles wide; at its deepest the Mariana Trench stretches almost 7 miles in the Earth. Ocean trenches are formed by the movement of the plates of the Earth's crust. When two plates collide, one plate is usually pushed underneath the other, which is called subduction. The Mariana Trench resulted from the Pacific Plate being forced down by the Philippine Plate. For more information about the Mariana Trench or other trenches, check and Encyclopedia such as Encyclopedia Britannica. For a great image on how deep the Mariana Trench is visit the Oceanclopedia at http://www.ocean98.org/ency421m.htm |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Sina: | Where is Devils's Island and what is its significance? | |
| GeoGeek Julia's answer: | Devil's Island is a small island (also called an islet) off the coast of French Guinea. French Guinea is a country on the Atlantic Coast of South America; it is boarded by Brazil and Suriname. Devils Island, one of a set of three islands, is long and narrow and covered mainly by palm trees. The Island is interesting because it was originally used as a leper colony. When people contracted leprosy (also known as Hansen's Disease), a chronic disease, they were often isolated in island communities for fear that they would spread the disease. Later the Island became a maximum security area were French prisoners were housed. Prisoners remained on Devil's Island until 1953! After the last prisoner left the Island was abandoned. Recently, there have been a growing number of tourist businesses on the island. "Devils Island." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2004. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 17 Feb. 2004 http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=30648>http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=30648 |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Krystal: | Where is the Slave Coast and what is its significance? | |
| GeoGeek Nafisah's answer: | The Slave Coast is located on the coastal region of Western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea. This area is infamous for its slave trade activities lasting from the 16th to 19th century. Europeans would come here as its primary source for transporting slaves. http://www.bartleby.com/65/sl/SlaveCoa.html http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=slave%20coast |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Allie, Sina, and Kelcy: | I need to know the location and importance of the following place please: The Eiger. | |
| GeoGeek Josh's answer: | Eiger Peak, Bernese Alps, Switzerland Elevation: 13,025 feet (3,970 meters) Latitude: 46° 35' N Longitude 8° 00' E Climate: Mountain Best Climbing Months: July, August, September Year First Climbed: 1858 The Eiger, whose name means Ogre, is appropriately named for the severity of its towering north face. This mountain is the farthest east on the same crest that holds Jungfrau (13,642 ft.) and Mönch (13,448 ft.). Of the three mountains, Eiger is the most spectacular. Its fearsome north wall towers over 5,000 feet. Several climbers have been killed on the wall, including the two Germans who first ascended it in 1935. Lots of pictures and links: http://www.peakware.com/encyclopedia/peaks/eiger.htm |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Allie and Sina: | I need to know the location and importance of the following place please: Nazca | |
| GeoGeek Josh's answer: | Nazca Ruins In the Peruvian desert, about 200 miles south of Lima, there lies a plain between the Inca and Nasca valleys. Across this plain, in an area measuring 37 miles long and 1 mile wide, is an assortment of perfectly straight lines, many running parallel, others intersecting, forming a grand geometric form. In and around the lines there are also trapezoidal zones, strange symbols, and pictures of birds and beasts all etched on a giant scale that can only be appreciated from the sky. The Nazca Lines are an engima. No one know who had built them or indeed why. Since their discovery, the Nazca Lines have inspired fantastic explanations from ancient gods, a landing strip for returning aliens, a celestial calendar, used for rituals probably related to astronomy, to confirm the ayllus or clans who made up the population and to determine through ritual their economic functions held up by reciprocity and redistribution or, a map of underground water supplies. Links about Nazca- http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/nazca.htm |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Greg: | Me and my friends are doing a science project on different plants that could help prevent erosion on burnt soil. I would like to know some plants that could help stop erosion. | |
| GeoGeek Tyler's answer: | There have been a few recent studies conducted on the effectiveness of different types of plant material that can prevent soil erosion after wildfires. Some plant nurseries sell "burn mixes" that are said to reduce erosion of scorched soil from rainfall and water flow, especially on hillsides. These mixes usually contain seeds from various grasses and weeds along with straw to hold the soil in place temporarily. However, according to the University of Wisconsin at Madison Ecology Group, seeding a burnt hillside is one of the worst things you could do. Straw does absolutely no good in preventing soil erosion, and may even contribute to it due to its clumping effect. In addition, the weeds and grasses will not germinate any faster than local plant species, and may even hinder their return by taking up valuable soil space. Also, their shallow root systems can cause greater amounts of soil erosion, since they are easily uprooted by water flow. It is generally best to wait for native plants to return to the burnt areas on their own. Logs and check dams made from sandbags are your best bet. However, if you must seed, some flowers such as poppies and lupines have deep enough root structures to have some effect. The American Geophysical Union has concluded that dead or burnt douglas fir or ponderosa pine needles, when spread on a landscape, can reduce burnt soil erosion by rain or water flow. In their study, they found that a 50 percent ground cover of Douglas fir needles reduced water flow erosion by 20 percent and rain-induced erosion by 80 percent. A 50 percent ground cover of ponderosa pine needles reduced water flow erosion by 40 percent and rain-induced erosion by 60 percent. Needles may be applied to landscapes where coniferous (needle-leaf) trees are not present. However, if they are already present in the burnt landscape and have been scorched somewhat themselves, spreading needles is not necessary, since they will drop from the affected trees within a matter of days or weeks. For further information, check out the following links: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/11/031119075950.htm http://www.laspilitas.com/classes/After_fire.html |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Allie: | I need to know the location and importance of the following place please: The Isthmus of Tehuantepec. | |
| GeoGeek Josh's answer: | Information on The Eiger and Nazca will be posted soon. Here is some info about the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is the narrowest part of southern Mexico between the Bay of Campeche on the north coast and the Gulf of Tehuantepec on the south coast isthmus - a relatively narrow strip of land (with water on both sides) connecting two larger land areas |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Perry: | What is the colderst inhabited place on Earth outside of Antarctica? | |
| GeoGeek Daniel's answer: | The coldest inhabited region of earth is Siberia in Eastern Russia. The low record for temperatures in that region is held in two locations, Oimekon and Verkhoyansk at -90°F. Verkhoyansk also holds the record for greatest extremes in temperature, with the highest temperature recorded being 98°F, making for a total difference of 188°F. The reason for these extremes is Asia's large land mass. Water has a mediating effect on temperature, and because of this temperature extremes are usually found in inland areas. At Northern (and Southern) latitudes less of the sun's energy reaches the Earth's surface, which when combined with the continental climate of a large land mass produce some of the coldest temperatures on Earth. You can read here more about Russia's climate: http://www.worldstates.ws/World_States/Europe/Russia/Land_and_Resources/Climate.htm |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Darin: | Where is the Strait of Malacca? | |
| A GeoGeek's answer: | The Strait of Malacca is a body of water between the island of Sumatra and the Malay peninsula in the Indian Ocean. The Strait is just north of the equator and at about 100° East. The island of Sumatra is part of the the country Indonesia and the Malay peninsula is shared by the countries of Thailand and Malaysia. Also, the city-state of Singapore is at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula. source: Goode's Atlas | |
|
|
||
| Question from Ellen, Courtlin and Krystal: | Where and what is the signifigance of Mandalay? | |
| GeoGeek Daniel's answer: | Mandalay is the second largest city in the South-East Asian country of Myanmar, (Also known as Burma). It is located along the Irrawaddy River, and is a major center of trade, as well as being an important religious center for Buddhism. For more information you can consult the CIA factbook entry for Burma, located here: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bm.html |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Ellen: | Where and what is the signifigance of the following places: The "Doldrums", Land's End, Mt. Etna, Mt. Waialeale, and Ngorongoro Crater? | |
| GeoGeek Nafisah's answer: | The Doldrums is an area where the two trade winds meet near the equator creating a belt of calm winds. Sailing vessels can be trapped here for long periods of time due to the lack of winds. From Physical Geography by Alan and Arthur Strahler Land's End is a peninsula on the southernmost tip of England. A legendary lost land of Lyonesse is said to lay just offshore of Land's End and the Scilly Isles. This mythical land is mentioned in many fantasy stories. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lands_End Mt. Etna is a volcano located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. It has been active for hundreds of thousands of years and is considered one of the most active volcanoes in the world. http://www.volcanolive.com/etna.html Mt. Waialeale is located on the oldest Hawaiian Island of Kauai. Waialeale is one of the tallest peaks receiving nearly 500 inches of rain per year. It is said to be the wettest spot on earth. http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/K/Kauai.asp Ngorongoro Crater is located in Tanzania in East Africa. It was once a large volcano that erupted leaving behind the largest undamaged caldera in the world. http://www.go2africa.com/ |
|
|
|
||
| More questions from Ellen: | Where and what is the signifigance of the following places: Chechnya, Diomede Islands? | |
| GeoGeek Nafisah's answer: | Chechnya is one of the members of the Russian Federation therefore it is still considered a part of Russia geographically and politically even though separatists proclaimed themselves a separate Republic. This region is located between the Black and Caspian Sea. The area is filled with rich history, beauty and natural resources. Its location is important because it serves as a passageway to transport oil, food, machines, and many other products. More on Chechnya here: http://www.rian.ru/rian/chechnya/en/intro/01.html Diomede Islands are two islands in the Bering Strait (less than 100 miles from the Arctic Circle) between Alaska and Siberia. One is know as Little Diomede which is part of the United States and Big Diomede is part of Russia. This area is the closest the U.S and Russia meet each other. From: www.alaska.com |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Ashleigh: | I need to find information on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Can you give or find information on this place? I'd like to know where it is and why it's special/important. Thank you! | |
| GeoGeek Hilary's answer: | The Strait of Juan de Fuca is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean between Vancouver Island in Southwest Canada and Olympic Peninsula, Washington in the United States. It serves as part of the U.S.-Canadian border and as the main avenue for shipping to Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Victoria. It is approximately 100 miles long and 11-20 miles wide. The strait was found in 1787 by Charles W. Barkley, an English captain, although its name came from a sailor, Juan de Fuca, who was said to have investigated the area in 1592 on a Spanish expedition. The strait is especially important as an intermediate body of water between the Pacific Ocean and the sheltered Strait of Georgia. The mixing of nutrient-rich, colder ocean water and water from the strait provides a highly productive environment for marine species. Visit this website for a map of the area: http://www.sookeoutdoors.com/juandefucatrail/jdfmap.html Sources: |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Courtlin: | What is the location and significance of the Caspian depression? | |
| GeoGeek Lauren's answer: | After looking in the Millennium World Atlas, I discovered that the Caspian depression is a large area of land on the northern end of the Caspian Sea. The Caspian sea is a salt lake and the largest lake in the world, covering 144,000 square miles. It lies between Europe and Asia. The Caspian depression occupies part of Kazakhstan and Russia. Many geologists have theorized that tectonic processes have formed the Caspian Sea and the depression. In other words, the movement of the earth's tectonic plates have caused the formation of the area. The Encyclopedia Britannica says that the depression is a very large, flat lowland, covering about 77,220 square miles. From other sources, I found that the Caspian depression, like the Caspian Sea, is an area rich in underground oil and gas reserves. Many countries are involved in extracting and selling these resources for a great profit. Sources: Heritage, Andrew. World Atlas, Millennium edition. |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Bette: | I was doing a cartography assignment about North Africa and the Middle East. When I was drawing Turkey the atlas said that the Capital City was Ankara but on other books and maps it says that it is Istanbul. Which of the two cities is the capital? | |
| GeoGeek Nafisah's answer: | Ankara is indeed the capital of Turkey. Istanbul is important due to its rich history and may be easily confused as the capital because it was once the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empire. Its location along the Bosporus Strait, linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, makes Istanbul an important link between Europe and Asia. As a commercial, industrial and financial center, Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, just ahead of Ankara. Istanbul was once known as Constantinople. Learn more about Turkey at: http://www.tradepartners.gov.uk/text/turkey/profile/04_geography/area.shtml |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Bruce: | What is the importance of Amundsen- Scott? What is it? Where is it? | |
| GeoGeek Daniel's answer: | Amundsen-Scott is a research station located at the Geographical south-pole in Antarctica. It is named after the early Antarctic explorers Roald Amundsen and Robert F. Scott. A virtual tour and more information about Amundsen-Scott at http://ast.leeds.ac.uk/haverah/spaseman/polestat.shtml http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/1996/nstc96rp/chv.htm http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/1996/nstc96rp/chiii.htm#chiii-b2 |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Trevor: | I saw a program that showed really weird animals from the Antarctic but I can't remember their names. One looked like a horse and rabbit in one animal. I'm doing a project and it has to be on animals. I'm looking for a really cool one that is different that no one else would pick. Please hurry I don't have alot of time to do this. Thank you. | |
| GeoGeek's answer: | We put your question to our Professor Kurt Cuffey, who is an expert on climate change in polar regions, especially glaciology (study of glaciers). Though he is not a biologist he has spent much time in the Antarctic and knows much about its environment and the animal species that live there. Here is his answer to your question: "There are no land mammals in the Antarctic. There are lots of marine ones. The leopard seal is an unusually vicious predator, and might be interesting to look at." | |
|
|
||
| Question from Joseph: | What is the distance from here to the moon? | |
| GeoGeek's answer | According to the Encyclopædia Britannica the moon has an approximate average distance from the Earth of 400,000 kilometers, or a little over 248,548 miles! | |
|
|
||
| Question from Anthony: | What type of rock is a geode and where are they mostly found? | |
| GeoGeek's answer: | A geode can either be igneous or sedimentary rock, but it is different from most rocks because it is hollow. For a geode to be igneous rock, hot magma from deep within the earth has to cool and harden around a bubble of residue, leaving a cavity. This cavity can also form in sedimentary rock if it is created by an animal or perhaps tree roots. The colorful crystals form when water and minerals build up inside the rock and cool over a period of thousands of years. Geodes are found throughout the world, but most commonly in deserts, areas of volcanic activity, or near limestone formations. You can actually visit geode collecting sites in California! For more great information, visit this site: http://www.desertusa.com/magjan98/jan_pap/du_rock_geode.html |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Yuval: | How far is it from Albany, California to Jerusalem, Israel? | |
| GeoGeek's answer: | The surface distance is 11,982 km. That is 7,446 miles. The Great Circle Distance (the shortest route by plane) is 11,918 km. That is 7,405 miles. By airplane, the shortest route is determined by the great circle distance between two points rather than the straight line distance on a flat map. The Earth isn't flat, but maps are, so maps are always distorted. The shortest route between two points on a globe is along part of a great circle, which is a large circle going all the way around the globe with the center of the Earth at the center of the circle. Information on time and motion http://plus.maths.org/issue7/features/greatcircles/ Distance calculator http://www.wcrl.ars.usda.gov/cec/java/lat-long.htm |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Sareeta: | How many countries are there in the world? | |
| GeoGeek's answer: | It depends who you ask, But I would say there are over 190 countries! It is a complicated question. The United Nations (U.N.) says that there are 191 countries. They also insist that they are not the authority on the number of countries. I have read that there are as many as 194 countries, the 191 U.N. members plus the Cook Islands, the Holy See (Vatican City in Rome) and Niue. There may be countries that have just recently been formed (East Timor is one). There may also be countries that claim their independence but another country says that they are not actually independent (Taiwan falls into this category). |
|
|
|
||
| Question from Noam: | How hot does it get in the Gobi Desert? | |
| GeoGeek's answer: | The Gobi Desert in Mongolia has reached temperatures as high as 113° F. That is an incredibly high temperature; where you live it has probably only reached temperatures a little above 90° F. -Encyclopædia Britannica | |
|
|
||
 |
 is
a service of Berkeley Undergraduate Geographers (BUGs) and is
intended for Grade School-aged and Middle School-aged kids.All questions are researched by a BUGs member and answers are provided with authoritative citations. |
