DK Findout! Earth - Maryam Sharif

C Table salt D Tower Bridge,
UK

E Taj Mahal,
India

3 Turquoise 5
This semiprecious stone is a
mix of the metals copper and Marble
aluminum. Blue in color,
turquoise has been made Marble is made from the
into jewelry and sculptures rock limestone. Strong
for thousands of years. heat and pressure can
crystallize limestone and
Rock salt 4 turn it into marble. It is
easy to carve and polish,
Rock salt, also called producing a smooth finish.
halite, forms when But marble is expensive, so
seawater evaporates. it is only used for special
It leaves behind salt sculptures and buildings.
crystals, which
people can use to 49
flavor food.

Answers: 1D 2A 3B 4C 5E

FACT FILE North America
This is the third
» Land area: largest continent,
and has the fourth
9.54 million sq miles largest population.
(24.71 million sq km) North America runs
from the Arctic down
» Countries: 23 to the tropics, so the
» Population: climate varies a lot.

579 million

» Largest city:

Mexico City

New York, New York

SMwoeauanttyhhdeAirfmfaeneredrniclatantydpsecsapoef FACT FILE
aAarmehuefogriuecnavd.aBrineiectSayouousftehpolaf nthtsis,
and animals live there. » Land area:
home to the
It is also rain forest in the 6.88 million sq miles
biggest (17.84 million sq km)
world—the Amazon.
» Countries: 12
» Population:

422.5 million

» Largest city:

Sāo Paulo

Amazon rain forest, Brazil

Continents Antarctica

All of the land on Earth is divided This is the coldest,
up into seven large areas, called driest, and windiest
continents. These are North America, continent on Earth.
South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, It is almost entirely
Australia, and Antarctica. Each covered in ice for
continent is divided up into a number most of the year.
of different countries. Only a few species
of animals and
plants can live there.

South Georgia,
Antarctica

50

FACT FILE Beijing, China FACT FILE

» Land area: Asia » Land area:
cclcTaiotohryngni—stetaiisniTstnoetpshnkotyeth.powIeu,tiolwanarltoslJidoarol’psndhal’asaansnrl.agtdrhegseetst
3(1.903.1m8 imlliiollniosnqsmqiklems) (1474.2.518mmililliloionnsqsqmkimles)

» Countries: 50 » Countries: 48
» Population: » Population:

743.1 million 4.44 billion

» Largest city: » Largest city:

Istanbul Tokyo

Rome, Italy Australia
This is the world’s smallest
EAhsumlatrshaotolphlueeesgtwhcoEoruuldrno’stprtyeh, iiVsradtthliaceargsneeCcsotitnpy,doipssmuinlaaEtlluieorsnot.pcTeoh.netwinoernldt,’sit continent. It is surrounded
by vast oceans. Most
people live on islands,
or along the coast.

FACT FILE

» Land area:

3.32 million sq miles
(8.6 million sq km)

» Countries: 4

» Population:

36 million

» Largest city:

Sydney

Uluru, Northern Territory

FACT FILE FACT FILE

» Land area: » Land area:

5.41 million sq miles 11.73 million sq miles
(14 million sq km) (30.37 million sq km)

» Countries: 0 » Countries: 54
» Population: 4,000 » Population:
» Largest city:
1.21 billion
McMurdo Station
» Largest city:

Lagos

Masai Mara Reserve, Kenya

Africa and has the
This is the second largest continent river and the
most countries. The world’s longest
world’s largest desert are in Africa.

51

Rural and Open spaces
urban These are common
in rural areas. Some
are conservation areas
that are specially

protected.

All over the world, people

live in both rural and

urban areas. In rural Facilities
areas, there are few Rural areas often
houses and lots of have few or no stores,
countryside. Many urban hospitals, or post offices.
People may have to
travel to the city to

find them.

areas, such as towns and

cities, are full of different

buildings, and natural,

green places are rarer.

People often move Settlements
between rural People live in small
and urban areas. towns and villages, or
even on isolated farms.
Many travel to the city
for school or work.

! WOW! Agricultural
A lot of the land
By 2030, in rural areas is
around 40 cities used for growing
crops and rearing
will have animals for food.
populations of
over 10 million! Rural

52 Less people live in rural areas, so
they are less built-up and have
plenty of open, green spaces.
Many people work on farms.

Settlements Rural and urban
Urban areas are populations
very built-up. Houses,
stores, offices, and other More and more people, across the
buildings are crammed world, are moving from rural into
in close together. urban areas, where there are more
jobs that are often better paid.

Rural Urban

Facilities 27% Europe
Usually, there 73% Most people in Europe
are lots of stores, live in urban areas. The
schools, libraries, and population of many
hospitals. There may also cities is still growing.
be sports centers and
swimming pools.

40% Africa
60% Here, more of the work
is on farms. Therefore,
most people remain in
rural areas.

Population 52% 48% Asia
In many countries, The world’s largest city,
most of the population Tokyo, is in Asia. But just
now live in towns and over half of all Asians
cities. This is because there live in rural areas.
are plenty of jobs and
South America
houses there. The urban population
here is expanding
20% rapidly. Most people
80% now live in cities.

Transportation 11% Australia
Most cities have 89% Some islands are still
good transportation very rural, but most
links. These include people live in cities,
roads for buses and dotted along the coast.
cars, railroads, and
20% North America
airports. 80% Wide open spaces are
common here, but few
Urban people live in them.
Most prefer city life.
Large numbers of people live close
to each other in urban areas. There

are many buildings and roads. People
in cities do lots of different jobs.

53

Mapping the world

Maps are a way of picturing the world. They can show a
small area, such as your neighborhood, or a very large area,
such as the whole world. Different types of map show
different things. Some show countries, while others may
just show physical features, such as rivers and mountains.

Lines of latitude are Different colors PTnilDunahahskictifelesuyfudsertds,rayteesiolpnecfmeraetaesaoocpl,tfuoruommlnercosteeraeasaaspnininpatnsssnht,,adhoavnewnsosyadlsecrmaydefnoabee.auosoetTletsurshhtr,aeseerrs.seiev. ers,
drawn across the map. are used for different
countries, which
are also named.

The equator is Lines of
an imaginary longitude run
line around from the top
the middle to the bottom
of the Earth. of the map.

Political world map KEY

A political map shows you the countries of Forest area
the world. You see where borders and cities Water
are, including national capitals. Imaginary, Dry land
numbered lines—the equator and lines of Mountains
latitude and longitude—give you the exact River
position on Earth of places they pass through.

54

Street map KEY

This type of map shows where Metro station
the streets and roads in a town
or city are. It will also show Ferry boarding 0 metres 500
bus stops, stations, schools, point 0 yards 500
hospitals, parks, and other
useful and important places. Pedestrian street

Street and
road names
are clearly
shown on
the map.

Important buildings
are featured and
labeled.

Information A scale tells you

how distances on

the map correspond

to real-life distances.

The compass symbol shows

you where North, South, East,

and West are on the map.

GPS map

This accurate, up-to-date map is
created using digital technology.
You can view GPS maps on your

phone, tablet,
or computer.
They can tell you
exactly where you
are at any time.

Finish your
journey here.

Start your
journey here.

55

Meet the expert

Dr. Amy Donovan works at the Department of
Geography, King’s College London in the UK.
Her special interest is studying how science can help
communities deal with the problems of living near
active volcanoes. Dr. Donovan also gives talks to schools
and at science festivals, and writes for science journals.

Q: We know your job has something to Q: What is a typical day at work like
do with geography, particularly hazards, for you?
such as volcanoes and earthquakes, but
what exactly do you do? A: I work in a university, so I spend a lot
of time teaching. But I also have days
A: Mostly my work involves using when I’m out monitoring an active
scientific and other kinds of information volcano, or gathering information from
to make decisions about land use and other scientists and civil protection
population management around active officials. I might also spend time with
volcanoes. At the moment, I’m working people affected by volcanic activity to
on how different countries can work find out how they deal with the problems
together to manage the effects of that brings. Other days may be spent in
eruptions. the laboratory, studying samples of

Q: What made you decide
to study geography, and
specialize in the problems
caused by volcanoes and
earthquakes?

A: My first degree was in
English, but geography and
geology had always been
strong interests of mine, so I
decided to study geoscience
with the Open University.
Then I did a MSc in geophysical
hazards, and finally a Ph.D. in
volcanology!

56 Special protective clothing is worn around volcanoes.

volcanic rock, or writing up my research, For volcanoes, there
or attending a conference, or visiting
schools and science fairs. are often signs that
Q: Have you written any books or
appeared on television? an eruption is
A: I’ve been on television a few times,
and sometimes I work as an advisor likely to happen.
on programs. I’m writing a book at
the moment. However, we may
Q: What sort of equipment do you use?
A: At volcanic sites, I use ultraviolet not pick them up, Through a spectrometer
and infrared spectrometers to measure because many
volcanic gases. I also use a lot of
specialized software for mapping, and for volcanoes are not monitored closely, and
analyzing the information that I gather
from my research. In the laboratory, I use signs that a volcano is about to become
special instruments to measure the
compositions of volcanic rocks. active can be hard to spot. But there have

Teamwork is important. been opportunities to warn people and

Q: How accurate is it possible to be clear areas successfully before an
when predicting an earthquake or a
volcanic eruption? eruption, such as with Mount Merapi in
A: It varies quite a lot. Earthquakes
cannot be predicted, but we can identify Indonesia in 2010.
areas that are at more risk than others.
Q: Is your job ever dangerous?

A: It can be! Volcanoes sometimes
surprise you, and there have been times
when I have had to move very quickly
because of a sudden, unexpected increase
in volcanic activity.

Q: What do you love most about
your work?

A: I love my research. I love working
with volcanologists and studying ways
that people deal with the problems of
living near a volcano. There’s a lot to be
learned, and it is exciting and satisfying
to be involved in protecting a place from
serious damage, or even destruction.

Q: What has been your most exciting
experience so far?

A: I monitored the 2014–15 Holuhraun
eruptions in Iceland. That was fantastic!
We were in the Icelandic highlands,
which are spectacular. It was the largest
eruption there since 1783–84, so it was
interesting scientifically, too.

57

Earth facts 10,830ºF
and figures (6,000ºC)

Our home planet is full of really is the temperature at Earth’s core. This
amazing things. Here are some is hotter than the surface of the sun!
weird and wonderful facts you
may not know about it! g. It w s equator, without stoppin
ould take a whole year to
550

volcanoes have erupted on
Earth’s surface since records
began. Around 60 are active

every year.

9,000 walk around the Earth at it

This is the number of people the world’s The oldest rocks on
population grows by in one hour. That’s the ocean floor are
the same as 25 planeloads of passengers
arriving on the planet every hour. 380
billion
58 years
old.

Russia is the largest country

in the world, covering 11.5 percent of Earth’s surface.

Deepest point
of the ocean

is Challenger Deep in
the Pacific. It would take 29
stacked Empire State Buildings
to reach the bottom here.

An average cloud weighs
as much as a jumbo jet

(but this weight is spread
out over a large area).

1.4 billion

This is the number of
people in China today,
the same number that
were in the whole world
150 years ago.

59

Glossary freshwater Water sources
that are fresh and without salt
Here are the meanings of some words that
are useful for you to know when learning glacier Large mass of ice that
about the Earth. moves slowly down a slope

atmosphere Thick layer of continent A large area of global positioning system
gases around the Earth that land, such as Asia (GPS) A radio navigation
protect the planet from the system that enables people to
burning rays of the sun desert A very dry place on determine exact locations on
Earth. It has less than 10 in Earth and obtain directions
biome Any main ecosystem (25 cm) of rainfall every year
on Earth with a particular grasslands A large, open area
vegetation and climate Earth The fifth largest that is covered with grass and
planet in our solar system often used for grazing animals
blizzard A wind storm in
which snow is blown quickly earthquake Movements in habitat Natural home
the Earth’s crust that make environment of an animal
cave A naturally occurring the ground shake violently
space inside a cliff or hillside heatwave A long period of
equator An imaginary line time in which the weather is
climate Weather patterns that runs horizontally unusually hot
for a particular area around the middle of Earth
hurricane A storm with
very fast and violent wind

cloud Lots of very tiny erosion Breaking down of lava Red-hot melted rock
water droplets and rock by weather or water that flows out of a volcano
sometimes ice crystals when it erupts
flooding When a river or the
conservation Protecting sea overflows and fills land map Representation of an
an area on Earth with water area of land or sea, showing
features such as borders,
Coral reef mountains, roads, and cities

mineral A group of Atacama Desert, South America
chemicals forming a solid
that occurs in nature, such season Yearly cycles of tornado A thin spiral of air
as crystals change that affect the spinning at high speed
weather, animals, and plants. around an area of extremely
mountain A large landform The four seasons are spring, low air pressure. Wind
that rises above the summer, fall, and winter speeds may be higher than
surrounding land, usually 200 mph (320 km/h)
with a peak. A mountain is seismograph A machine that
usually higher than a hill measures earthquakes tropical An area or a climate
with hot temperatures
polar Areas near the North snow Ice crystals that fall
and South Poles from clouds and stick tundra A cold, treeless area
together to form snowflakes near the North and South
pollution Waste that has Poles, where soil remains
been dumped in water, in solar system The collection frozen for most of the year
the air, or on land. Pollution of eight planets that revolve
can have a negative effect around our sun urban A built-up area, such
on the environment as a city or a large town. The
storm Strong winds, opposite of rural
population The number between gale and hurricane
of people living in a country force, of 64–75 mph volcano Where hot magma
or smaller area, such as a (103–121 km/h) breaks through the Earth’s
city or a town crust with great pressure
tectonic plate Giant rocky
rain forest An area with plates that make up the weathering The cracking of
heavy rainfall, allowing lots Earth’s crust rocks by weather, plants, or
of trees and other plants to chemicals
grow. Many are also very hot temperate An area
or a climate with mild wetland Land made up of
river A large body of water temperatures marshes or swamps
flowing in a channel to the
sea, a lake, or another river

rock A group of minerals,
forming a solid that is found
underground or on the
surface of the Earth

rural In the countryside. The
opposite of urban

61

Index

A deltas 25, 34 I
deserts 18–19, 33, 34, 45, 60
Africa 51, 53 Donovan, Dr. Amy 56–57 ice 20, 26–27, 28, 31,
agricultural 52 35, 39, 43
air 6–7 E
Amazon 50 ice cave 31
Angel Falls 33 earthquakes 10, 11, 16–17, igneous rock 46, 47
Antarctica 50–51 56, 57, 60 Iguazu Falls 24
Asia 51, 53 iron 8, 48
Atacama Desert 33 energy 42 islands 22
Atlantic Ocean 23 equator 4, 18, 54, 60 Istanbul 51
atmosphere 6–7, 60 erosion 28, 47, 60
aurora 6 estuaries 25 K
Australia 51, 53 Europe 51, 53
Everest, Mount 32 Katmai Peninsula 25
B exosphere 6 Kilimanjaro, Mount 13
Krubera Cave 33
Beijing 51
Benagil cave 31 F L
biomes 34–35, 60
blizzards 39, 60 facilities 52, 53 Lagos 51
buttes 19 flooding 25, 39, 60 lakes 20, 47
forests 34–35, 44–45 latitude 54
C Fuji, Mount 11, 14 lava 14, 30, 60
lava caves 30
calderas 15 G Li River 25
caves 30–31, 33, 60 longitude 54
cities 52, 53, 55, 61 glaciers 20, 26–27, 28,
cliffs 28, 31 31, 43, 60 M
climate 41, 60
climate change 42–43 Gobi Desert 19 magma 9, 12, 13, 14, 22,
clouds 7, 38, 59, 60 GPS (global positioning system) 46, 48, 61
compass 55
coniferous forests 35 55, 60 maps 54–55, 60
conservation 36–37, 60 Grand Canyon 29 marble 49
continents 8, 50–51, 60 granite 48 Masai Mara Reserve
coral reefs 23 grasslands 35, 44, 60 Mauna Loa 15
crust 9, 10–11, 16, 61 Great Barrier Reef 23 McMurdo Station 51
meanders 25
D H mesas 19
mesosphere 7
deciduous forests 35, 45 habitats 34–35, 60 metamorphic rock 46, 47
heatwaves 39, 60 meteors 7
Himalayas 13 Mexico City 50
hurricanes 39, 60
hydrothermal vents 23

62

minerals 48, 61 Ross Island 19 tributaries 24
mountains 7, 12–13, 24, rural areas 52–53, 61 tropical areas 61
troposphere 7
26, 32, 34, 47, 61 S tsunamis 17
tundra 35, 61
N Sahara Desert 18 turquoise 49
sand dunes 19
Nevado del Ruiz 11 Sāo Paulo 50 U
New York 50 satellites 6
Nile River 32 scale 55 Uluru 51
North America 50, 53 sea caves 31 urban areas 52–53, 61
seas 8, 20, 22–23
O seasons 40–41, 61 V
sedimentary rock 47
oases 19 seismographs 16–17, 61 valleys 24, 27
oceans 8, 9, 20, 22–23, 47, 59 settlements 52, 53 Vatican City 51
orbit 5, 40 Sierra Nevada 12 volcanoes 9, 10, 11, 13, 14–15,
ozone layer 7 Skaftafell cave 31
snow 26, 35, 39, 60, 61 22, 30, 46, 47, 56–57, 58, 61
P soil 44–45
solar system 4–5, 61 W
Pacific Ocean 59 South America 50, 53
Perito Moreno Glacier 27 St. Helens, Mount 11 water 4, 8, 19, 20–21, 36, 60
planets 4–5, 61 stalactites 31 erosion 28, 29
plants 44–45 stalagmites 30 oceans 22–23
polar areas 35, 61 storms 39, 61 rainfall 21, 29, 33, 38, 39
pollution 36, 37, 61 stratosphere 7 rivers 20, 24–25, 28, 32, 61
population 52–53, 58, 59, 61 structure of the Earth 8–9
Puy de Dôme 12 sun 4–5, 38, 40 waterfalls 24, 33
Sydney 51 waves 17, 28
R weather 7, 38–39
T weathering 29, 47, 61
rainfall 21, 29, 33, 38, 39 wetlands 34, 61
rain forests 34, 44, 61 tectonic plates 10–11, 12, wind 28, 29, 36, 38, 61
record breakers 32–33 16, 22, 61
recycling 43
ridges, oceanic 23 temperatures 6, 8, 18–19, 29,
Ring of Fire 11 40–41, 42–43, 58, 61
rivers 20, 24–25, 28, 32, 61
rock pools 23 thermosphere 6
rock salt 49 Thurston cave 30
rocks 14, 45, 46–47, 58, 61 Tokyo 51
tornadoes 39, 61
caves 30–31 transport 42, 53
erosion 28, 47, 60 trenches, oceanic 22
inside Earth 8–9
uses 48–49
weathering 29, 47, 61

63

Acknowledgments

The publisher would like to thank the following people for their assistance in the preparation of
this book: Caroline Hunt for proofreading, Hilary Bird for the index, Ala Uddin for design assistance,
and Dan Crisp for illustrations. The publishers would also like to thank Dr. Amy Donovan for the “Meet
the expert” interview.

The publisher would like to thank the Cortez (br). 40–41 123RF.com: Lilkar (c). 44 Cover images: Front: 123RF.com: 1xpert l,
following for their kind permission to 123RF.com: Morley Read (tr). Dreamstime.com: NejroN cr; CNES: ill.Pierre Carril fcra; Back: 123RF.
reproduce their photographs: Andreanita (c). 45 Alamy Stock Photo: Norman com: Somchai Jongmeesuk clb; Dorling
Owen Tomalin (crb). Dreamstime.com: Kindersley: Natural History Museum, London cr;
(Key: a-above; b-below/bottom; c-center; Marcovarro (cl). 47 123RF.com: Tobkatrina (tc/ Dreamstime.com: Mtoumbev tl; Spine: 123RF.
f-far; l-left; r-right; t-top) canyon). Depositphotos Inc: Naticastillog (tr). com: 1xpert b; Front Flap: 123RF.com: Jejim b;
Dreamstime.com: Aitor Muñoz Muñoz (tc). Alamy Stock Photo: Blickwinkel tr;
2 iStockphoto.com: Bihaibo (crb). 3 CNES: ill. 48 123RF.com: Sun_Rise (cl). 49 Dorling Depositphotos Inc: Znm666 cb; Imagelibrary
Pierre Carril (tr). Getty Images: Joe Carini (cb). 6 Kindersley: Natural History Museum, London India Pvt Ltd: Jaime Diaz bl; iStockphoto.com:
CNES: ill.Pierre Carril (cla). 7 Dreamstime.com: (cr). Dreamstime.com: Andrew Barker (tr). 50 MyImages_Micha cla; Back Flap: iStockphoto.
Andrey Armyagov (cr). 12 123RF.com: Tom 123RF.com: Bernard Bodo (ca). iStockphoto. com: Naumoid tc; NASA: cb
Grundy (c). Alamy Stock Photo: Emmanuel com: JohnnyLye (c). 50–51 iStockphoto.com:
LATTES (cb). 13 Depositphotos Inc: RichLindie (b). 51 123RF.com: Feiyuwzhangjie All other images © Dorling Kindersley
Simonwattsphoto (br). iStockphoto.com: Daniel (ca); Vit Kovalcik (cla). Dreamstime.com: Joshua For further information see:
Prudek (cla). 14 Dreamstime.com: Craig Hanson Cortopassi (cr). 53 123RF.com: Visions of www.dkimages.com
/ Rssfhs (cra). 15 Alamy Stock Photo: Juergen America LLC (r). Getty Images: Oleksiy
Ritterbach (cr). Getty Images: Joe Carini (cra); Maksymenko (l). 54–55 Depositphotos Inc:
Mario Vazquez (cl). 16 123RF.com: Delpieroo (b). 56–57 Dr. Amy Donovan: (All).
Destinacigdem (clb). 17 Getty Images: China 60 123RF.com: Brian Kinney (bl). Getty Images:
Photos (cb). SuperStock: Dirk Bleyer /
imagebroker (cla). 18 Depositphotos Inc: Jkraft5 Joe Carini (tl). 61 Depositphotos Inc: jkraft5 (tr).
(cl). Dreamstime.com: Galyna Andrushko (tc). 19
123RF.com: Danilo Forcellini (cb); Jejim (crb). 62 123RF.com: Tobkatrina (tl).
Alamy Stock Photo: Colin Harris / era-images (c).
Dreamstime.com: Patrick Poendl (cb/oases). 64 Alamy Stock Photo:
FLPA: Colin Monteath, Hedgehog House /
Minden Pictures (tc). 22 NASA: Jesse Allen / US Blickwinkel (tl)
Geological Survey. Aerial photographs courtesy
of the Hydrographic and Oceanographic
Department, Japan Coast Guard. (c). 22–23
Dreamstime.com: David Carbo (t). 23 123RF.
com: Brian Kinney (c). Dreamstime.com: Helen
Hotson (tr). 24 123RF.com: Detanan (ca).
25 iStockphoto.com: Bihaibo (tc). SuperStock:
Biosphoto (cb). 26–27 Science Photo Library:
Bernhard Edmaier. 27 Imagelibrary India Pvt
Ltd: Jaime Diaz (crb). 28 123RF.com: Joerg
Hackemann (clb); Somchai Jongmeesuk (t).
Dreamstime.com: Doughnuts64 (cb). 29 Alamy
Stock Photo: Geogphoto (t). iStockphoto.com:
MyImages_Micha (cb). 30 Dreamstime.com:
George Burba (cb). 30–31 Alamy Stock Photo:
Blickwinkel (t). 31 123RF.com: Mauro Rodrigues
(crb); Valentyna Zhukova (clb). 32 Getty Images:
Image Source (crb). 33 Getty Images: Stephen
Alvarez (cra); FabioFilzi (crb). 34 123RF.com:
NejroN (cr); Pongphan Ruengchai (clb). 35 123RF.
com: Pavel Cheiko (tl); Juhani Viitanen (tr); Marina
Vdovkina (bl). Depositphotos Inc: Znm666 (cr).
38 123RF.com: Marisha5 (tl). 38–39 123RF.com:
Alexey Kamenskiy. 39 123RF.com: Wiml (tr);
Montree Worasethakorn (tc). Getty Images: Yuri

64