Atlas (World Atlas)

AFRICA 289

Niger

Niger lies in west Africa, upstream from Nigeria on the
Niger River. One of the world’s poorest states, it was ruled by one-

party or military regimes until multipartyism was allowed in 1992.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
The north and northeast regions Vast uranium deposits. Frequent
are part of the Sahara. The Aïr Mountains droughts and food shortages. Banditry.
in the center rise high above the desert. Expansion of Sahara. Oil potential.
Savanna lies to the south.
INSIGHT: The name Niger comes from
CLIMATE the Tuareg word n’eghirren, which
High temperatures persist for most means “flowing water”
of the year at around 95°F (35°C). The
north is virtually rainless. 1000m/3281ft LIBYA
500m/1640ft Sahara
PEOPLE & SOCIETY 200m/656ft
Tuareg nomads in the north feel Sea Level
excluded from politics and the benefits
of development of their area’s uranium ALGERIA
resources. An early 1990s rebellion
was reignited in 2007. In the south, Massif T énéré
egalitarianism and a sense of community de l'Aïr
help to combat economic difficulties. MALI
Almost the entire urban population Agadez
lives in slum conditions. Two-thirds
of the population is under 25. Women Niger BURKINA Tahoua S a h e l CHAD
have limited rights and restricted Lake
access to education. NIAMEY Birnin Konni Zinder Diffa Chad

Dosso Maradi
Dogondoutchi

BENIN

NIGERIA

0 200 km

0 200 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Hausa, French*, other
RELIGIONS: Muslim 85%, traditional
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Niger beliefs 14%, other (incl. Christian) 1%
DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 ETHNIC MIX: Hausa 55%, Djerma and
CAPITAL: Niamey Songhai 21%, Peul 9%, Tuareg 9%,
POPULATION: 15.3 million other 6%
TOTAL AREA: 489,188 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(1,267,000 sq. km) CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes
DENSITY: 31 people per sq. mile

290 AFRICA

Nigeria

West Africa’s biggest nation, Nigeria is a federation of
36 states and the capital, Abuja. Dominated by military
governments since 1966, democracy returned in 1999.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Coastal area of beaches, swamps, Overdependent on oil, principal
and lagoons gives way to rainforest, and export since 1970s. Mismanagement and
then to savanna on the high plateaus. corruption. Foreign debt reduced.
Semidesert to the north.
INSIGHT: Nigeria is Africa’s most
CLIMATE populous state – one in every seven
The south is hot, rainy and humid Africans is Nigerian
for most of the year. The arid north has
one very humid wet season. The Jos Sokoto Niger NIGER CHAD
Plateau and highlands are cooler. ger Katsina Lake Chad
Ni
PEOPLE & SOCIETY BENIN Kano Maiduguri
Some 250 ethnic groups: tensions
threaten national unity, with sporadic Kaduna
intercommunal violence. The northern
states have introduced sharia (Islamic ABUJA Jos enue
law) for their majority Muslim Plateau
populations. Women have more
economic independence in the south. Ilorin B
In the Niger Delta, where 70% of people
live on less than a dollar a day, militants Ogbomosho Makurdi
are fighting for a share of the benefits Ibadan
of the region’s oil wealth. Enugu
Lagos

Bight of Benin Benin Uyo CAMEROON
City

ATLANTIC Port Harcourt
OCEAN

0 200 km 1000m/3281ft
0 200 miles 500m/1640ft
200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Hausa, English*,
Yoruba, Ibo
OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Republic of Nigeria RELIGIONS: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1960 traditional beliefs 10%
CAPITAL: Abuja ETHNIC MIX: Hausa 21%, Yoruba 21%,
POPULATION: 155 million Ibo 18%, Fulani 11%, other 29%
TOTAL AREA: 356,667 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(923,768 sq. km) CURRENCY: Naira = 100 kobo
DENSITY: 440 people per sq. mile

EUROPE 291

Norway

The Kingdom of Norway traces the rugged western coast
of Scandinavia. Settlements are largely restricted to southern and

coastal areas. Vast oil and natural gas revenues bring prosperity.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
The western coast is indented with
numerous fjords and features tens of Western Europe’s top oil and natural
thousands of islands. Mountains and
plateaus cover most of the country. gas producer: trust fund saves for post-oil

CLIMATE future. Metal, chemical, and
Mild coastal climate. Inland, the
weather is more extreme, with warmer engineering industries.
summers and cold, snowy winters.
Generous aid donor. Hammerfest
PEOPLE & SOCIETY High cost of living. RUSS.
Fairly homogeneous; influx of
refugees from 1990s Bosnian conflict. 2000m/6562ft Tromsø FED.
Strong family tradition despite high 1000m/3281ft Narvik FINLAND
divorce rate. Fair-minded consensus 500m/1640ft
promotes female equality, boosted by 200m/656ft Bodø
the generous childcare provision. Sea Level
Wealth is more evenly distributed than
in most developed countries. Voted Arctic Circle
not to join EU in 1994.
Norwegian SWEDEN
INSIGHT: Near Narvik, mainland Sea
Norway is only 4 miles (7 km) wide
Trondheim

Ålesund

Lillehammer

Bergen Hønefoss

North OSLO
Sea
Moss
Stavanger

Kristiansand gerr a k 0 200 km
Ska 0 200 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Norwegian* (Bokmål and
Nynorsk), Sámi
OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Norway RELIGIONS: Evangelical Lutheran 89%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1905 other 10%, Roman Catholic 1%
CAPITAL: Oslo ETHNIC MIX: Norwegian 93%, other 6%,
POPULATION: 4.81 million Sámi 1%
TOTAL AREA: 125,181 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
(324,220 sq. km) CURRENCY: Norwegian krone = 100 øre
DENSITY: 41 people per sq. mile

292 ASIA

Oman

Oman occupies a strategic position on the Arabian
Peninsula, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. It is the
least developed Gulf state, despite modest oil exports.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Mostly gravelly desert, with Oil and natural gas account for
mountains in the north and south. Some almost all export revenue. Commercially
narrow fertile coastal strips. extractable reserves are limited. Other
exports include fish, animals, and dates.
CLIMATE Foreigners work in all sectors.
Blistering heat in the west. Summer
temperatures often climb above 113°F 2000m/6562ft Strait of Hormuz
(45°C). Southern uplands receive rains 1000m/3281ft
June–September. Al Kha§ab Gulf
500m/1640ft Musandam
PEOPLE & SOCIETY 200m/656ft Peninsula of
Urban drift has seen most Omanis Sea Level
move to northern towns. The majority Oman
are Ibadi Muslims who follow an
appointed leader, the imam. Ibadism is UAE fluíár
not opposed to freedom for women, and
a few women hold positions of authority. MUSCAT
Baluchi from Pakistan are the largest Ar Rustáq
group of foreign workers. Al Qábil

INSIGHT: Until the late 1980s, Bahlah flamad flúr
Oman was closed to all but
business or official visitors SAUDI Arabian
ARABIA Sea

Ar Rub' al Khálí Duqm

INDIAN
OCEAN

flawqirah

YEMEN

flalálah 0 100 km

0 100 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Arabic*, Baluchi, other
RELIGIONS: Ibadi Muslim 75%, other Muslim
OFFICIAL NAME: Sultanate of Oman and Hindu 25%
DATE OF FORMATION: 1951 ETHNIC MIX: Arab 88%, Baluchi 4%,
CAPITAL: Muscat Persian 3%, Indian and Pakistani 3%,
POPULATION: 2.85 million African 2%
TOTAL AREA: 82,031 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Monarchy
(212,460 sq. km) CURRENCY: Omani rial = 1000 baisa
DENSITY: 35 people per sq. mile

ASIA 293

Pakistan

Once a part of British India, Pakistan was created in 1947
in response to demands for an independent Muslim state. In
1971, Bangladesh (former East Pakistan) became a separate state.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY

Indus floodplain across east and Major cotton and rice producer,

south. Hindu Kush mountains in north. but unpredictable weather conditions

Semidesert plateau, mountains in west. often affect crop. Textiles. Instability.

Corruption. Aid to fight terrorism and for

CLIMATE earthquake reconstruction.

Temperatures can soar to 122°F

(50°C) in south and west, and fall to –4°F 5000m/16405ft CHINA

(–20°C) in the Hindu Kush. 4000m/13124ft Hindu Kush
3000m/9843ft IndusKaRraaknogream
PEOPLE & SOCIETY 2000m/6562ft ISLÁMÁBÁD
Punjabis dominate government and 1000m/3281ft
500m/1640ft Khyber Pass
200m/656ft
Sea Level Pesháwar
Ráwalpindi
the army. Tensions with minority groups, AFGHANISTAN Siálkot
exacerbated by the vast gap between Quetta Sargodha Gujránwála
rich and poor. Strong family ties Lahore
permeate politics and business. Faisalábád
Punjab
Multán
Relations with India are tense over Indus
Baháwalpur

Kashmir. Islamist taliban insurgency in Sukkur

tribal areas on Afghan border: in 2009, I R A N Baluchistán INDIA

fighting displaced two million. Sindh Thar
Desert

INSIGHT: In 1988, Pakistan elected Karáchi Indus Hyderábád
Benazir Bhutto as the first female prime Arabian Sea
minister in the Muslim world 0 200 km
0 200 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Urdu*,
Baluchi, Brahui
OFFICIAL NAME: Islamic Rep. of Pakistan RELIGIONS: Sunni Muslim 77%, Shi’a
DATE OF FORMATION: 1947 Muslim 20%, Hindu 2%, Christian 1%
CAPITAL: Islamabad ETHNIC MIX: Punjabi 56%, Pathan 15%,
POPULATION: 181 million Sindhi 14%, other 8%, Mohajir 7%
TOTAL AREA: 310,401 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(803,940 sq. km) CURRENCY: Pakistani rupee = 100 paisa
DENSITY: 607 people per sq. mile

294 AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA

Palau

The 300-island Palau archipelago (known locally as
Belau) lies in the western Pacific Ocean. It achieved independence
in 1994, and is gradually reducing its aid dependence.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Terrain varies from thickly forested Tourism and fishing licenses are
mountains to limestone and coral reefs. main earners. Coconuts, taro, and
Babeldaob, the largest island, is volcanic, bananas. 15-year US aid plan to 2009.
with many rivers and waterfalls.
INSIGHT: Palau’s reefs contain 1500
CLIMATE species of fish and 700 types of coral
Hot and wet. Little variation in daily
and seasonal temperatures. February– Ngaruangl
April is the dry season.
Kayangel
PEOPLE & SOCIETY Islands
Native Palauans are a mix of
the original Southeast Asian migrants 200m/656ft Ollei
and Pacific settlers. A modern influx Sea Level
from Asia has led to tension. 70% of
the population lives on the island-city PACIFIC Ngardmau
of Koror, prompting the construction OCEAN MELEKEOK
of a new capital on Babeldaob.
Native culture is preserved on Koror Babeldaob
outer islands despite strong influence
from the US and Japan. Modekngei Airai
is a blend of Christianity and Oreor
local beliefs.
Urukthapel

Eil Malk

Peleliu

Angaur 0 30 km
0 30 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Palauan*, English*, Japanese,
Angaur, Tobi, Sonsorolese
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Palau RELIGIONS: Christian 66%, Modekngei 34%
DATE OF FORMATION: 1994 ETHNIC MIX: Palauan 74%, Filipino 16%,
CAPITAL: Melekeok other 6%, Chinese and
POPULATION: 20,400 other Asian 4%
TOTAL AREA: 177 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Nonparty system
(458 sq. km) CURRENCY: US dollar = 100 cents
DENSITY: 104 people per sq. mile

NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA 295

Panama

Panama is the southernmost country in Central America.
The colossal Panama Canal (which was under US control

until 2000) links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Lowlands along both coasts, with Colón Free Trade Zone: world’s
savanna-covered plains and rolling hills. second-largest. Income from the canal
Mountainous interior. Swamps and (expansion project underway) and
rainforests in the east. merchant ships sailing under flag of
Panama. Banana and shrimp exports.
CLIMATE
Hot and humid, with heavy rainfall INSIGHT: The Panama Canal shortens
in the May–December wet season. the sea route between the east coast of
Cooler at high altitudes. the US and Japan by 3000 miles (4800 km)

PEOPLE & SOCIETY Caribbean Sea Colón
A multiethnic society,
dominated by people of Cristóbal San Miguelito
Spanish origin. Amerindians Panama Canal
live in remote areas. The Panama PANAMA CITY
Canal and former US military COSTA Balboa
bases (the last of which closed
in 1999) have given society a RICA La Concepción Cordillera
Centr al
David Santiago

Golfo de Archipielago La Palma
Chiriquí
Chitré de las Perlas

Isla de Las Tablas Golfo de
Coiba Panamá
COLOMBIA

cosmopolitan outlook, but Catholicism PACIFIC
and the extended family remain OCEAN

strong. Crime is high; money-laundering, 0 100 km 2000m/6562ft
narcotics trafficking, and 0 100 miles 1000m/3281ft
corruption are rife. 500m/1640ft
200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: English Creole, Spanish*,
Amerindian and Chibchan languages
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Panama RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 86%, other 8%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1903 Protestant 6%
CAPITAL: Panama City ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 60%, White 14%,
POPULATION: 3.45 million Black 12%, Amerindian 8%, other 6%
TOTAL AREA: 30,193 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(78,200 sq. km) CURRENCY: Balboa = 100 centésimos
DENSITY: 118 people per sq. mile

296 AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA

Papua New Guinea

A former Australian colony, Papua New Guinea (PNG)
occupies the eastern section of the island of New Guinea and
several other island groups. Much of the country is isolated.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Mountainous and forested Minerals: significant quantities of
mainland, with broad, swampy river gold, copper, oil, and natural gas. High
valleys. 40 active volcanoes in the north. government spending almost led to
Around 600 outer islands. national bankruptcy in 2002.

CLIMATE INSIGHT: PNG is home to the only
Hot and humid in lowlands, cooling known poisonous birds; contact with
toward highlands, where snow can fall on the feathers of some species of pitohui
highest peaks. produces skin blisters

PEOPLE & SOCIETY New G u i n e a LorengauBismarc k PACI FIC O C E A N
Around 800 language groups and Aitape Admiralty Is. Ire Archi pelago
even more tribes. The main social
distinction is between lowlanders, who Owen StaWewakNew land
have frequent contact with the outside
world, and the very isolated, but Fly Bismarck Rabaul
increasingly threatened, highlanders. INDONESIA Sea
Great tensions exist between highland Madang New Britain
tribes, and vendettas can often last
several generations. The island of Mount Kandrian
Bougainville has been granted autonomy
and promised an eventual referendum Hagen
on independence.
Lae Bougainville I. Kieta
Solomon

PORT Popondetta S e a
MORESBY
nley Range Kiriwina Is.
Louisiade
Archipelago

3000m/9843ft Coral Sea
2000m/6562ft
1000m/3281ft 0 200 km
500m/1640ft 0 200 miles
200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE DENSITY: 39 people per sq. mile
LANGUAGES: Pidgin English, Papuan, English*,
OFFICIAL NAME: Independent State of Motu, c.800 native languages
Papua New Guinea RELIGIONS: Protestant 60%, Roman
DATE OF FORMATION: 1975 Catholic 37%, other 3%
CAPITAL: Port Moresby ETHNIC MIX: Melanesian and mixed 100%
POPULATION: 6.73 million GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary system
TOTAL AREA: 178,703 sq. miles CURRENCY: Kina = 100 toea
(462,840 sq. km)

SOUTH AMERICA 297

Paraguay

Landlocked in central South America, and once a
Spanish colony, Paraguay’s postindependence history has
included periods of military rule. Free elections were held in 1993.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
The Paraguay River divides the hilly Agriculture: soybeans are the main
and forested east from a flat alluvial export. Electricity exported from massive
plain, with marsh and semidesert scrub hydroelectric dams, including Itaipú
land in the west. (world’s second-largest, jointly run
with Brazil). Large informal economy.
CLIMATE Corruption and smuggling.
Subtropical. The Gran Chaco is
generally hotter and drier. All areas BOLIVIA 0 100 km
experience floods and droughts. 0 100 miles

PEOPLE & SOCIETY r a cn Paraguay BRAZIL
Population mainly of mixed Spanish h a o
and native Guaraní origin. Most people G
are bilingual, though in rural areas Guaraní C
is more widely used. Cattle ranchers
populate the Chaco, along with Pedro Juan Caballero
communities of the German-origin
Mennonite Church. The army is Concepción
politically active.
ARGENTINA Represa
INSIGHT: The War of the Triple de Itaipú
Alliance (1864–1870) killed almost 90%
of Paraguay’s male population ASUNCIÓN Coronel Oviedo

Lambaré

Villarrica Ciudad
del Este

1000m/3281ft Pilar Encarnación
500m/1640ft Paraná
200m/656ft
Sea Level

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Guaraní*, Spanish*,
German
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Paraguay RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 96%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1811 Protestant (including Mennonite) 4%
CAPITAL: Asunción ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 91%, other 7%,
POPULATION: 6.35 million Amerindian 2%
TOTAL AREA: 157,046 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(406,750 sq. km) CURRENCY: Guaraní = 100 céntimos
DENSITY: 41 people per sq. mile

298 SOUTH AMERICA

Peru

Once the heart of the Inca Empire, before the Spanish
conquest in the 16th century, Peru lies on the Pacific coast
of South America, just south of the equator.

GEOGRAPHY THE ECONOMY
Coastal plain rises to Andes Abundant mineral resources:
Mountains. Uplands, dissected by fertile notably copper and gold. Rich Pacific fish
valleys, lie east of the Andes. Tropical stocks. Illegal cocaine producer.
forest in extreme east.
INSIGHT: Lake Titicaca is the world’s
CLIMATE highest navigable lake
Coast is mainly arid. Middle slopes
of the Andes are temperate; higher peaks Equator
are snow-covered. East is hot, humid,
and very wet. Putu Ucayali COLOMBIA

PEOPLE & SOCIETY ECUADOR d ma y oAmazon
Though most people are An Iquitos
Amerindians or mixed-race mestizos,
society is dominated by a small group of Marañón
Spanish descendants. Amerindians, and
the small black community, suffer Piura
discrimination in towns, but access to
information and political power are Chiclayo BRAZIL
growing; the first Amerindian president
was elected in 2001–2006. Clashes with Trujillo Pucallpa
left-wing militants killed almost 70,000 Chimbote Huánuco
people between 1980 and 2000.
LIMA Huancayo

Callao e
P A C I F I C Ayacuchos Cusco
OCEAN Ica
Lake
Juliaca Titicaca

4000m/13124ft Arequipa BOLIVIA
Tacna

2000m/6562ft 0 200 km CHILE
500m/1640ft
Sea Level
0 200 miles

FACTFILE LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Quechua*,
Aymara
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Peru RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 95%,
DATE OF FORMATION: 1824 other 5%
CAPITAL: Lima ETHNIC MIX: Amerindian 50%, Mestizo 40%,
POPULATION: 29.2 million White 7%, other 3%
TOTAL AREA: 496,223 sq. miles GOVERNMENT: Presidential system
(1,285,200 sq. km) CURRENCY: New sol = 100 céntimos
DENSITY: 59 people per sq. mile