Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the classification of living and extinct organisms. The term is derived from the Greek taxis (“arrangement”) and nomos (“law”) and refers to the methodology and principles of systematic botany and zoology by which the various kinds of plants and animals are arranged in hierarchies of superior and subordinate groups.
Popularly, classifications of living organisms arise according to need and are often superficial; for example, although the term fish is common to the names shellfish, crayfish, and starfish, there are more anatomical differences between a shellfish and a starfish than there are between a bony fish and a human. Also, vernacular names vary widely. Biologists have attempted to view all living organisms with equal thoroughness and thus have devised a formal classification. A formal classification supports a relatively uniform and internationally understood nomenclature, thereby simplifying cross-referencing and retrieval of information.
Carolus Linnaeus, who is usually regarded as the founder of modern taxonomy and whose books are considered the beginning of modern botanical and zoological nomenclature, drew up rules for assigning names to plants and animals and was the first to use binomial nomenclature consistently, beginning in 1758. Classification since Linnaeus has incorporated newly discovered information and more closely approaches a natural system, and the process of clarifying relationships continues to this day. The table below shows the seven ranks that are accepted as obligatory by zoologists and botanists and sample listings for animals and plants.
|
|
ANIMALS |
PLANTS |
|
Kingdom |
Animalia |
Plantae |
|
Phylum/Division |
Chordata |
Tracheophyta |
|
Class |
Mammalia |
Pteropsida |
|
Order |
Primates |
Coniferales |
|
Family |
Hominidae |
Pinaceae |
|
Genus |
Homo |
Pinus |
|
Species |
Homo sapiens (human) |
Pinus strobus (white pine) |
Period of Gestation and Longevity of Selected Mammals
|
|
AVERAGE |
AVERAGE |
|
AVERAGE |
AVERAGE |
|
|
GESTATION |
LONGEVITY |
|
GESTATION |
LONGEVITY |
|
ANIMAL |
(DAYS) |
(YEARS) |
ANIMAL |
(DAYS) |
(YEARS) |
|
bear (black) |
219 |
18 |
horse |
330 |
20 |
|
bear (grizzly) |
225 |
25 |
human (worldwide) |
266-70 |
Men: 64.7; |
|
bear (polar) |
240 |
20 |
\ |
|
Women: 68.9 |
|
cat (domestic) |
63 |
12 |
monkey (rhesus) |
164 |
15 |
|
dog (domestic) |
61 |
12 |
mouse (domestic white) |
19 |
3 |
|
elephant (Asian) |
645 |
40 |
pig (domestic) |
112 |
10 |
|
fox (red) |
52 |
7 |
rabbit (domestic) |
31 |
5 |
|
guinea pig |
68 |
4 |
sheep (domestic) |
154 |
12 |
|
hippopotamus |
238 |
25-30 |
squirrel (gray) |
44 |
9-10 |
Names of the Male, Female, Young, and Group of Animals
|
ANIMAL |
MALE |
FEMALE |
YOUNG |
GROUP |
|
ape |
male |
female |
baby |
shrewdness |
|
bear |
boar |
sow |
cub |
sleuth, sloth |
|
camel |
bull |
cow |
calf |
flock |
|
cattle |
bull |
cow |
calf |
drift, drove, herd, mob |
|
chicken |
rooster |
hen |
chick, pullet (hen), |
flock, brood (hens), clutch & peep |
|
|
|
|
cockrell (rooster) |
(chicks) |
|
deer |
buck, stag |
doe |
fawn |
herd |
|
donkey |
jack, jackass |
jennet, jenny |
colt, foal |
drove, herd |
|
elephant |
bull |
cow |
calf |
herd, parade |
|
ferret |
hob |
jill |
kit |
business, fesynes |
|
fox |
reynard |
vixen |
kit, cub, pup |
skulk, leash |
|
giraffe |
bull |
doe |
calf |
herd, corps, tower, group |
|
goat |
buck, billy |
doe, nanny |
kid, billy |
herd, tribe, trip |
|
gorilla |
male |
female |
infant |
band |
|
|
Names of the Male, Female, Young, and Group of Animals |
|||
|
ANIMAL |
MALE |
FEMALE |
YOUNG |
GROUP |
|
hamster |
buck |
doe |
pup |
horde |
|
hippopotamus |
bull |
cow |
calf |
herd, bloat |
|
horse |
stallion, stud |
mare, dam |
foal, colt (male), |
stable, harras, herd, team (working) |
|
|
|
|
filly (female) |
string or field (racing) |
|
human |
man |
woman |
baby, infant, toddler |
clan (related), crowd, family (closely |
|
|
|
|
|
related), community, gang, mob, |
|
|
|
|
|
tribe, etc. |
|
lion |
lion |
lioness |
cub |
pride |
|
louse |
male |
female |
nymph |
lice, colony, infestation |
|
mouse |
buck |
doe |
pup, pinkie, kitten |
horde, mischief |
|
ostrich |
cock |
hen |
chick |
flock |
|
pig |
boar |
sow |
piglet, shoat, farrow |
drove, herd, litter (of pups), sounder |
|
quail |
cock |
hen |
chick |
bevy, covey, drift |
|
rhinoceros |
bull |
cow |
calf |
crash |
|
seal |
bull |
cow |
pup |
herd, pod, rookery, harem |
|
sheep |
buck, ram |
ewe, dam |
lamb, lambkin, cosset |
drift, drove, flock, herd, mob, trip |
|
turkey |
tom |
hen |
poult |
rafter |
|
turtle |
male |
female |
hatchling |
bale |
|
whale |
bull |
cow |
calf |
gam, grind, herd, pod, school |
|
wolf |
dog |
bitch |
pup, whelp |
pack, rout |
|
zebra |
stallion |
mare |
colt, foal |
herd, crossing |
Plants
Oldest Trees and Flowering Plants in the World
|
|
MAXIMUM Al ESTIMATED |
GE IN YEARS VERIFIED |
LOCATION |
|
trees |
|
|
|
|
Bristlecone pine |
|
4,900 |
Wheeler Peak, Humboldt National Forest, Nevada |
|
Sierra redwood |
4,000 |
2,200-2,300 |
northern California |
|
Swiss stone pine |
1,200 |
750 |
Riffel Alp, Switzerland |
|
common juniper |
2,000 |
544 |
Kola Peninsula, northeastern Russia |
|
European larch |
700 |
417 |
Riffel Alp, Switzerland |
|
Norway spruce |
1,200 |
350-400 |
Eichstatt, Bavaria, Germany |
|
flowering plants |
|
|
|
|
bo tree |
2,000-3,000 |
|
Bodh Gaya, India; Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka |
|
English oak |
2,000 |
1,500 |
Hasbruch Forest, Lower Saxony, Germany |
|
linden |
|
815 |
Lithuania |
|
European beech |
900 |
250 |
Montigny, Normandy, France |
|
English ivy |
440 |
|
Ginac, near Montpellier, France |
|
dragon tree |
200 |
|
Tenerife, Canary Islands |
|
dwarf birch |
|
80 |
eastern Greenland |
Forests of the World
This table shows the 25 countries or dependencies that lost the most forest area between 1990 and 2005 and those that gained the most, as well as forest losses or gains by continent. 1 hectare (ha) = x .01 sq km, .004 sq mi. Source: State of the World’s Forests 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
PERCENTAGE |
|
|
|
LAND AREA |
TOTAL FOREST IN |
TOTAL FOREST IN |
OF LAND AREA |
% CHANGE |
|
COUNTRY/AREA |
(’000 HA) |
1990 (’000 HA) |
2005 (’000 HA) |
IN 2005 (%) |
1990-2005 |
|
Kiribati |
73 |
28 |
2 |
2.7 |
-92.86 |
|
Kazakhstan |
269,970 |
9,758 |
3,337 |
1.2 |
-65.80 |
|
Comoros |
186 |
12 |
5 |
2.7 |
-58.33 |
|
Togo |
5,439 |
719 |
386 |
7.1 |
-46.31 |
|
Lesotho |
3,035 |
14 |
8 |
0.3 |
-42.86 |
|
The Bahamas |
1,001 |
842 |
515 |
51.5 |
-38.84 |
|
Brunei |
527 |
452 |
278 |
52.8 |
-38.50 |
|
Mozambique |
78,409 |
31,238 |
19,262 |
24.6 |
-38.34 |
|
Burundi |
2,568 |
241 |
152 |
5.9 |
-36.93 |
|
Nigeria |
91,077 |
17,501 |
11,089 |
12.2 |
-36.64 |
|
Afghanistan |
65,209 |
1,351 |
867 |
1.3 |
-35.83 |
Forests of the World
|
|
|
|
|
PERCENTAGE |
|
|
|
LAND AREA |
TOTAL FOREST IN |
TOTAL FOREST IN |
OF LAND AREA |
% CHANGE |
|
COUNTRY/AREA |
(’000 HA) |
1990 (’000 HA) |
2005 (’000 HA) |
IN 2005 (%) |
1990-2005 |
|
Mauritania |
102,522 |
415 |
267 |
0.3 |
-35.66 |
|
Niger |
126,670 |
1,945 |
1,266 |
1.0 |
-34.91 |
|
Haiti |
2,756 |
158 |
105 |
3.8 |
-33.54 |
|
Pakistan |
77,088 |
2,755 |
1,902 |
2.5 |
-30.96 |
|
Libya |
175,954 |
311 |
217 |
0.1 |
-30.23 |
|
Benin |
11,062 |
3,349 |
2,351 |
21.3 |
-29.80 |
|
Uganda |
19,710 |
5,103 |
3,627 |
18.4 |
-28.92 |
|
Ghana |
22,754 |
7,535 |
5,517 |
24.2 |
-26.78 |
|
Albania |
2,740 |
1,069 |
794 |
29.0 |
-25.72 |
|
Liberia |
9,632 |
4,241 |
3,154 |
32.7 |
-25.63 |
|
Bangladesh |
13,017 |
1,169 |
871 |
6.7 |
-25.49 |
|
Indonesia |
181,157 |
118,110 |
88,495 |
48.8 |
-25.07 |
|
Paraguay |
39,730 |
24,602 |
18,475 |
46.5 |
-24.90 |
|
Dem. People’s Rep. of Korea |
12,041 |
8,210 |
6,187 |
51.4 |
-24.64 |
|
Lebanon |
1,023 |
37 |
136 |
13.3 |
267.57 |
|
Micronesia |
70 |
24 |
63 |
90.6 |
162.50 |
|
Ethiopia |
100,000 |
4,996 |
13,000 |
13.0 |
160.21 |
|
Cape Verde |
403 |
35 |
84 |
20.8 |
140.00 |
|
Northern Mariana Islands |
46 |
14 |
33 |
72.4 |
135.71 |
|
Mauritius |
203 |
17 |
37 |
18.2 |
117.65 |
|
Tunisia |
15,536 |
499 |
1,056 |
6.8 |
111.62 |
|
Kuwait |
1,782 |
3 |
6 |
0.3 |
100.00 |
|
Oman |
30,950 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
100.00 |
|
Sierra Leone |
7,162 |
1,416 |
2,754 |
38.5 |
94.49 |
|
Uruguay |
17,502 |
791 |
1,506 |
8.6 |
90.39 |
|
Iceland |
10,025 |
25 |
46 |
0.5 |
84.00 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
214,969 |
1,504 |
2,728 |
1.3 |
81.38 |
|
Puerto Rico |
887 |
234 |
408 |
46.0 |
74.36 |
|
Uzbekistan |
41,424 |
1,923 |
3,295 |
8.0 |
71.35 |
|
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 39 |
7 |
11 |
28.2 |
57.14 |
|
|
El Salvador |
2,072 |
193 |
298 |
14.4 |
54.40 |
|
Iran |
163,620 |
7,299 |
11,075 |
6.8 |
51.73 |
|
East Timor |
1,487 |
541 |
798 |
53.7 |
47.50 |
|
Cyprus |
924 |
119 |
174 |
18.9 |
46.22 |
|
Morocco |
44,630 |
3,037 |
4,364 |
9.8 |
43.69 |
|
Vietnam |
32,549 |
9,303 |
12,931 |
39.7 |
39.00 |
|
Ireland |
6,889 |
489 |
669 |
9.7 |
36.81 |
|
United States of America |
915,896 |
222,113 |
303,089 |
33.1 |
36.46 |
|
China |
932,742 |
145,417 |
197,290 |
21.2 |
35.67 |
|
South America |
1,753,646 |
922,731 |
831,540 |
47.4 |
-9.88 |
|
Africa |
2,962,656 |
702,502 |
635,412 |
21.4 |
-9.55 |
|
Europe |
2,260,180 |
1,030,475 |
1,001,394 |
44.3 |
-2.82 |
|
North and Central America |
2,143,910 |
555,002 |
705,849 |
32.9 |
27.18 |
|
Asia |
3,097,913 |
551,448 |
571,577 |
18.5 |
3.65 |
|
Oceania |
849,116 |
201,271 |
206,254 |
24.3 |
2.48 |
|
World |
13,067,421 |
3,963,429 |
3,952,025 |
30.2 |
-0.29 |
In 17th-century Holland a speculative frenzy erupted over the sale of tulip bulbs. Tulips had been introduced into Europe from Turkey shortly after 1550. Demand for new varieties soon exceeded the supply, and prices rose to astonishing heights. The craze, known as the tulip mania, reached its peak in Holland in 1633-37. Homes, estates, and industries were mortgaged so that bulbs could be purchased; bulbs of rare varieties sold for the equivalent of hundreds of dollars each. The crash came in 1637, when almost overnight the price structure collapsed, sweeping away fortunes and leaving behind financial ruin for many Dutch families.
Geology
The Continents
Figures given are approximate. Area and population as of 2007. Highest and lowest points listed are all given in relation to sea level.
|
|
% OF TOTAL |
|
||
|
CONTINENT |
POPULATION |
AREA |
LAND AREA1 |
HIGHEST/LOWEST POINT |
|
Africa |
939,166,800 |
30,246,121 sq km 11,678,182 sq mi |
20.2 |
Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania): 5,895 m (19,340 ft) Lake Assal (Djibouti): -157 m (-515 ft) |
|
Antarctica |
N/A |
14,200,000 sq km 5,500,000 sq mi |
9.5 |
Vinson Massif: 4,892 m (16,050 ft) BentleySubglacial Trench: -2,500 m (-8,200 ft) |
|
Asia |
3,976,028,000 |
31,699,257 sq km 12,239,181 sq mi |
21.1 |
Mt. Everest (China/Nepal): 8,850 m (29,035 ft) Dead Sea (Israel/Jordan): -400 m (-1,312 ft) |
|
Europe |
732,578,400 |
23,039,279 sq km 8,895,468 sq mi |
15.4 |
Mt. Elbrus (Russia): 5,642 m (18,510 ft) Caspian Sea (Russia): -27 m (-90 ft) |
|
North America |
523,775,400 |
24,393,585 sq km 9,418,416 sq mi |
16.3 |
Mt. McKinley (Alaska): 6,194 m (20,320 ft) Death Valley (California): -86 m (-282 ft) |
|
Australia (and Oceania) 34,375,070 |
8,515,144 sq km 3,287,717 sq mi |
5.7 |
Jaya Peak (Indonesia): 5,030 m (16,500 ft) Lake Eyre (Australia): -15 m (-50 ft) |
|
|
South America |
376,055,500 |
17,824,370 sq km 6,882,027 sq mi |
11.9 |
Mt. Aconcagua (Argentina/Chile): 6,959 m (22,834 ft) Valdes Peninsula (Argentina): -40 m (-131 ft) |
Wall Street, which was recognized even before the Civil War as the financial capital of the US, is narrow and short, extending only about seven blocks across part of southern Manhattan in New York City. It was named for an earthen wall built by Dutch settlers in 1653 to repel an expected English invasion.
|
|
|
|
AREA1 |
|
NAME AND LOCATION |
CONTINENT |
SQ MI |
SQ KM |
|
Greenland |
North America |
822,700 |
2,130,800 |
|
New Guinea, Papua New Guinea/Indonesia |
Australia (and Oceania) |
309,000 |
800,000 |
|
Borneo, Indonesia/Malaysia/Brunei |
Asia |
292,000 |
755,000 |
|
Madagascar |
Africa |
226,662 |
587,051 |
|
Baffin, Nunavut, Canada |
North America |
195,928 |
507,451 |
|
Sumatra, Indonesia |
Asia |
186,253 |
482,393 |
|
Great Britain, UK |
Europe |
88,386 |
228,919 |
|
Honshu,Japan |
Asia |
87,992 |
227,898 |
|
Victoria, Northwest Territories/Nunavut, Canada |
North America |
83,896 |
217,291 |
|
Ellesmere, Nunavut, Canada |
North America |
75,767 |
196,236 |
|
Celebes, Indonesia |
Asia |
74,845 |
193,847 |
|
South Island, New Zealand |
Australia (and Oceania) |
58,776 |
152,229 |
|
Java, Indonesia |
Asia |
49,926 |
129,307 |
|
North Island, New Zealand |
Australia (and Oceania) |
44,872 |
116,219 |
|
Cuba |
North America |
42,804 |
110,861 |
|
Newfoundland, Canada |
North America |
42,031 |
108,860 |
|
Luzon, Philippines |
Asia |
40,420 |
104,688 |
|
Iceland |
Europe |
39,741 |
102,928 |
|
Mindanao, Philippines |
Asia |
36,537 |
94,630 |
|
Ireland, Ireland/UK |
Europe |
32,375 |
83,849 |
|
Hokkaido, Japan |
Asia |
30,107 |
77,978 |
|
Sakhalin, Russia |
Asia |
29,500 |
76,400 |
|
Hispaniola, Haiti/Dominican Republic |
North America |
29,418 |
76,192 |
|
Banks, Northwest Territories, Canada |
North America |
27,038 |
70,028 |
|
Tasmania, Australia |
Australia |
26,410 |
68,401 |
|
Sri Lanka |
Asia |
25,332 |
65,610 |
|
Devon, Nunavut, Canada |
North America |
21,331 |
55,247 |
Highest Mountains of the World by Region
“I” in the name of a peak refers to the highest in a group of numbered peaks of the same name.
|
|
|
|
YEAR FIRST |
|
NAME AND LOCATION HEIGHT IN M |
HEIGHT IN FT |
CLIMBED |
|
|
Africa |
|
|
|
|
Kilimanjaro (Kibo peak), Tanzania |
5,895 |
19,340 |
1889 |
|
Mt. Kenya (Batian peak), Kenya |
5,199 |
17,058 |
1899 |
|
Margherita, Ruwenzori Range, Dem. Rep. of the Congo/Uganda |
5,119 |
16,795 |
1906 |
|
Ras Dejen, Simen Mtns., Ethiopia |
4,620 |
15,157 |
1841 |
|
Antarctica |
|
|
|
|
Vinson Massif, Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mtns. |
4,892 |
16,050 |
1966 |
|
Tyree, Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mtns. |
4,852 |
15,919 |
1967 |
|
Shinn, Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mtns. |
4,801 |
15,751 |
1966 |
|
Asia |
|
|
|
|
Everest (Chomolungma), Himalayas, |
8,850 |
29,035 |
1953 |
|
Nepal/Tibet, China |
|
|
|
|
K2 (Godwin Austen) (Chogori), Karakoram Range, |
8,611 |
28,251 |
1954 |
|
Pakistan/Xinjiang, China |
|
|
|
|
Kanchenjunga I, Himalayas, Nepal/India |
8,586 |
28,169 |
1955 |
|
Lhotse I, Himalayas, Nepal/Tibet, China |
8,501 |
27,890 |
1956 |
|
Makalu I, Himalayas, Nepal/Tibet, China |
8,463 |
27,766 |
1955 |
|
Caucasus |
|
|
|
|
Elbrus, Russia |
5,642 |
18,510 |
1874 |
|
Dykh-Tau, Russia |
5,204 |
17,073 |
1888 |
|
Koshtan-Tau, Russia |
5,151 |
16,900 |
1889 |
|
Shkhara, Russia/Georgia |
5,068 |
16,627 |
1888 |
|
Europe |
|
|
|
|
Mont Blanc, Alps, France/Italy/Switzerland |
4,807 |
15,771 |
1786 |
|
Dufourspitze, Monte Rosa Massif, Alps, Switzerland/Italy |
4,634 |
15,203 |
1855 |
|
Highest Mountains of the World by Region |
|
||
|
|
|
|
YEAR FIRST |
|
NAME AND LOCATION |
HEIGHT IN M |
HEIGHT IN FT |
CLIMBED |
|
Europe |
|
|
|
|
Dom (Mischabel), Alps, Switzerland |
4,545 |
14,912 |
1858 |
|
Weisshorn, Alps, Switzerland |
4,505 |
14,780 |
1861 |
|
North America |
|
|
|
|
McKinley, Alaska Range, Alaska |
6,194 |
20,320 |
1913 |
|
Logan, St. Elias Mtns., Yukon, Canada |
5,951 |
19,524 |
1925 |
|
Citlaltepetl (Orizaba), Cordillera Neo-Volcanica, |
5,610 |
18,406 |
1848 |
|
Mexico |
|
|
|
|
St. Elias, St. Elias Mtns., Alaska/Canada |
5,489 |
18,008 |
1897 |
|
Australia (and Oceania) |
|
|
|
|
Jaya (Sukarno) (Carstensz), Sudirman Range, Indonesia |
5,030 |
16,5001 |
1962 |
|
Pilimsit (Idenburg), Sudirman Range, Indonesia |
4,800 |
15,7501 |
1962 |
|
Trikora (Wilhelmina), Jayawijaya Mtns., Indonesia |
4,750 |
15,5801 |
1912 |
|
Mandala (Juliana), Jayawijaya Mtns., Indonesia |
4,700 |
15,4201 |
1959 |
|
South America |
|
|
|
|
Aconcagua, Andes, Argentina/Chile |
6,959 |
22,831 |
1897 |
|
Ojos del Salado, Andes, Argentina/Chile |
6,893 |
22,614 |
1937 |
|
Bonete, Andes, Argentina |
6,872 |
22,546 |
1913 |
|
Mercedario, Andes, Argentina/Chile |
6,770 |
22,211 |
1934 |
Major Caves and Cave Systems of the World by Continent
|
NAME AND LOCATION |
DEP FEET |
TH1 M |
LEN MILES |
GTH2 KM |
|
Africa |
|
|
|
|
|
Ambatoharanana, Madagascar |
N/A |
N/A |
11.2 |
18.1 |
|
Boussouil, Algeria |
2,641 |
805 |
2.0 |
3.2 |
|
Ifflis, Algeria |
3,839 |
1,170 |
1.2 |
2.0 |
|
Sof ‘Umar, Ethiopia |
49 |
15 |
9.4 |
15.1 |
|
Tafna (Bou Ma’za), Algeria |
N/A |
N/A |
11.4 |
18.4 |
|
Asia |
|
|
|
|
|
Air Jernih, Malaysia |
1,165 |
355 |
94.1 |
151.4 |
|
Boj-Bulok, Uzbekistan |
4,642 |
1,415 |
8.9 |
14.3 |
|
Evren Gunay Dudeni, Turkey |
4,688 |
1,429 |
1.9 |
3.1 |
|
Kap-Kutan/Promezhutochnaya, Turkmenistan |
1,017 |
310 |
35.4 |
57.0 |
|
Oreshnaya, Russia |
787 |
240 |
36.0 |
58.0 |
|
Australia (and Oceania) |
|
|
||
|
Atea, Papua New Guinea |
1,148 |
350 |
21.4 |
34.5 |
|
Bullita, NT, Australia |
75 |
23 |
68.1 |
109.6 |
|
Bulmer, New Zealand |
2,457 |
749 |
32.4 |
52.1 |
|
Neide-Muruk, Papua New Guinea |
4,127 |
1,258 |
10.6 |
17.0 |
|
Nettlebed, New Zealand |
2,917 |
889 |
15.1 |
24.2 |
|
Europe |
|
|
||
|
Holloch, Switzerland |
3,079 |
939 |
120.7 |
194.2 |
|
Jean Bernard, France |
5,256 |
1,602 |
12.8 |
20.5 |
|
Krubera, Georgia |
7,188 |
2,191 |
8.2 |
13.2 |
|
Optimisticheskaya, Ukraine |
49 |
15 |
133.6 |
215.0 |
|
Trave, Spain |
4,728 |
1,441 |
5.7 |
9.2 |
|
North America |
|
|
||
|
Cuicateca, Mexico |
4,869 |
1,484 |
16.3 |
26.2 |
|
Huautla, Mexico |
4,839 |
1,475 |
38.6 |
62.1 |
|
Jewel, South Dakota |
632 |
193 |
140.1 |
225.4 |
|
Mammoth-Flint Ridge, Kentucky |
379 |
116 |
367.0 |
590.6 |
|
Wind, South Dakota |
646 |
197 |
127.8 |
205.6 |
Major Caves and Cave Systems of the World
|
NAME AND LOCATION |
DEP FEET |
m1 M |
LEN MILES |
GTH2 KM |
|
South America |
|
|
|
|
|
Aonda, Venezuela |
1,188 |
362 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Barriguda, Brazil |
200 |
61 |
18.6 |
30.0 |
|
Boa Vista, Brazil |
164 |
50 |
63.7 |
102.5 |
|
Kaukiran, Peru |
1,335 |
407 |
1.3 |
2.1 |
|
Sao Mateus-Imbira, Brazil |
N/A |
N/A |
12.7 |
20.5 |
Major Deserts of the World by Continent
|
|
AREA |
|
AREA |
||
|
DESERT (LOCATION) |
SQ KM |
SQ MI |
DESERT (LOCATION) |
SQ KM |
SQ MI |
|
Africa |
|
|
Australia |
|
|
|
Sahara, northern Africa |
8,600,000 |
3,320,000 |
Great Victoria, Western and |
647,000 |
250,000 |
|
Kalahari, southwestern |
930,000 |
360,000 |
South Australia |
|
|
|
Africa |
|
|
Great Sandy, northern |
400,000 |
150,000 |
|
Namib, southwestern |
135,000 |
52,000 |
Western Australia |
|
|
|
Africa |
|
|
Simpson, Northern Territory |
145,000 |
56,000 |
|
Libyan, Libya, Egypt, and |
N/A |
N/A |
Gibson, Western Australia |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Sudan |
|
\ |
North America |
|
|
|
Asia |
|
\ |
Great Basin, southwestern |
492,000 |
190,000 |
|
Arabia, southwestern Asia |
2,330,000 |
900,000 |
US |
|
|
|
Gobi, Mongolia and |
1,300,000 |
500,000 |
Chihuahuan, northern |
450,000 |
175,000 |
|
northeastern China |
|
|
Mexico |
|
|
|
Rub’ al-Khali, southern |
650,000 |
250,000 |
Sonoran, southwestern US |
310,000 |
120,000 |
|
Arabian Peninsula |
|
|
and Baja California |
|
|
|
Karakum, Turkmenistan |
350,000 |
135,000 |
Mojave, southwestern US |
65,000 |
25,000 |
|
Kyzylkum, Kazakhstan and |
300,000 |
115,000 |
Colorado, California |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Uzbekistan |
|
|
and nor thern Mexico |
|
|
|
Takla Makan, northern |
270,000 |
105,000 |
Yuma, Arizona and |
N/A |
N/A |
|
China |
|
|
Sonora, Mexico |
|
|
|
Kavir, central Iran |
260,000 |
100,000 |
|
|
|
|
Syrian, Saudi Arabia, |
260,000 |
100,000 |
South America |
|
|
|
Jordan, Syria, and Iraq |
Patagonian, southern |
673,000 |
260,000 |
||
|
Thar, India and Pakistan |
200,000 |
77,000 |
Argentina |
|
|
|
Lut, eastern Iran |
52,000 |
20,000 |
Atacama, northern Chile |
140,000 |
54,000 |
Major Volcanoes of the World by Continent
|
\ |
|
|
FIRST |
|
|
\ |
ELEVATION |
RECORDED |
MOST RECENT |
|
|
VOLCANO, LOCATION |
M |
FT |
ERUPTION |
ERUPTION |
|
Africa |
|
|
|
|
|
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania1 |
5,895 |
19,340 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Cameroon, Cameroon |
4,095 |
13,435 |
1650 |
2000 |
|
Teide (Tenerife), Canary Islands |
3,715 |
12,188 |
N/A |
1909 |
|
Nyiragongo, Dem. Rep. of the Congo |
3,470 |
11,384 |
1884 |
2007 |
|
Nyamuragira, Dem. Rep. of the Congo |
3,058 |
10,033 |
1882 |
2006 |
|
Antarctica |
|
\ |
|
|
|
Erebus, Ross Island |
3,794 |
12,447 |
1841 |
2007 |
|
Darnley, Sandwich Islands |
1,100 |
3,609 |
1823 |
N/A |
|
Asia, Oceania, and the Pacific |
|
|
|
|
|
Klyuchevskaya, Kamchatka, Russia2 |
4,835 |
15,863 |
1697 |
2007 |
|
Mauna Kea, Hawaii |
4,205 |
13,796 |
N/A |
c. 2460 bc |
|
Mauna Loa, Hawaii |
4,170 |
13,681 |
1750 |
1984 |
|
Kerinci, Sumatra, Indonesia |
3,800 |
12,467 |
1838 |
2008 |
|
Fuji, Honshu, Japan |
3,776 |
12,388 |
1050 bc |
1708 |
|
Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia |
3,726 |
12,224 |
1847 |
2004 |
|
Tolbachik, Kamchatka, Russia |
3,682 |
12,080 |
1740 |
1976 |
|
Semeru, Java, Indonesia |
3,676 |
12,060 |
1818 |
2007 |
Major Volcanoes of the World
|
|
|
|
FIRST |
|
|
|
ELEVATION |
RECORDED |
MOST RECENT |
|
|
VOLCANO, LOCATION |
M |
FT |
ERUPTION |
ERUPTION |
|
Europe and the Atlantic |
|
|
|
|
|
Etna, Italy |
3,350 |
10,991 |
N/A |
2007 |
|
Askja, Iceland |
1,516 |
4,974 |
1875 |
1961 |
|
Hekla, Iceland |
1,491 |
4,892 |
1104 |
2000 |
|
Vesuvius, Italy |
1,281 |
4,203 |
79 |
1944 |
|
Stromboli, Italy |
924 |
3,031 |
N/A |
2007 |
|
North America |
|
|
|
|
|
Citlaltepetl, Mexico |
5,675 |
18,619 |
N/A |
1846 |
|
Popocatepetl, Mexico |
5,426 |
17,802 |
1347 |
2007 |
|
Rainier, Washington |
4,392 |
14,409 |
N/A |
1894 |
|
Shasta, California |
4,317 |
14,163 |
1786 |
1786 |
|
Colima, Mexico |
3,850 |
12,631 |
1576 |
2007 |
|
St. Helens, Washington |
2,549 |
8,363 |
N/A |
2007 |
|
South America |
|
|
|
|
|
Guallatiri, Chile |
6,071 |
19,918 |
1825 |
1960 |
|
Tupungatito, Chile |
6,000 |
19,685 |
1829 |
1987 |
|
Cotopaxi, Ecuador |
5,911 |
19,393 |
1532 |
1940 |
|
Lascar, Chile |
5,592 |
18,346 |
1848 |
2007 |
|
Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia |
5,321 |
17,457 |
1595 |
1991 |
Oceans & Seas
|
|
AREA |
|
VOLUME |
|
|
|
SQ KM |
SQ MI |
CU KM |
CU MI |
|
Pacific Ocean |
|
|
|
|
|
without marginal seas |
165,250,000 |
63,800,000 |
707,600,000 |
169,900,000 |
|
with marginal seas |
179,680,000 |
69,370,000 |
723,700,000 |
173,700,000 |
|
Atlantic Ocean |
|
|
|
|
|
without marginal seas |
82,440,000 |
31,830,000 |
324,600,000 |
77,900,000 |
|
with marginal seas |
106,460,000 |
41,100,000 |
354,700,000 |
85,200,000 |
|
Indian Ocean |
|
|
|
|
|
without marginal seas |
73,440,000 |
28,360,000 |
291,000,000 |
69,900,000 |
|
with marginal seas |
74,920,000 |
28,930,000 |
291,900,000 |
70,100,000 |
|
Arctic Ocean |
14,090,000 |
5,440,000 |
17,000,000 |
4,100,000 |
|
Australasian Central Sea |
8,140,000 |
3,140,000 |
9,900,000 |
2,400,000 |
|
Gulf of Mexico and |
4,320,000 |
1,670,000 |
9,600,000 |
2,300,000 |
|
Caribbean Sea |
|
|
|
|
|
Mediterranean and |
2,970,000 |
1,150,000 |
4,200,000 |
100,000 |
|
Black Seas |
|
|
|
|
|
Bering Sea |
2,304,000 |
890,000 |
3,330,000 |
80,000 |
|
Sea of Okhotsk |
1,583,000 |
611,000 |
1,300,000 |
30,000 |
|
Hudson Bay |
1,230,000 |
470,000 |
160,000 |
40,000 |
|
North Sea |
570,000 |
220,000 |
50,000 |
10,000 |
|
Baltic Sea |
420,000 |
160,000 |
20,000 |
5,000 |
|
Irish Sea |
100,000 |
40,000 |
6,000 |
1,000 |
|
English Channel |
75,000 |
29,000 |
4,000 |
1,000 |
|
|
AVERAGE DEPTH |
|
|
|
|
M |
FT |
DEEPEST POINT |
|
Pacific Ocean |
|
|
|
|
without marginal seas |
4,280 |
14,040 |
Mariana Trench |
|
with marginal seas |
4,030 |
13,220 |
(11,034 m; 36,201 ft) |
|
Atlantic Ocean |
|
|
|
|
without marginal seas |
3,930 |
12,890 |
Puerto Rico Trench |
|
with marginal seas |
3,330 |
10,920 |
(8,380 m; 27,493 ft) |
|
Indian Ocean |
|
|
|
|
without marginal seas |
3,960 |
10,040 |
Sunda Deep of the Java |
|
with marginal seas |
3,900 |
12,790 |
Trench (7,450 m; 24,442 ft) |
|
Arctic Ocean |
1,205 |
3,950 |
(5,502 m; 18,050 ft) |
|
|
AVERAGE DEPTH |
|
|
|
|
M |
FT |
DEEPEST POINT |
|
Australasian Central Sea |
1,210 |
3,970 |
N/A |
|
Gulf of Mexico and |
2,220 |
7,280 |
Cayman Trench |
|
Caribbean Sea |
|
|
(7,686 m; 25,216 ft) |
|
Mediterranean and |
1,430 |
4,690 |
Ionian Basin |
|
Black Seas |
|
|
(4,900 m; 16,000 ft) |
|
Bering Sea |
1,440 |
4,720 |
Bowers Basin (4,097 m; 13,442 ft) |
|
Sea of Okhotsk |
838 |
2,750 |
Kuril Basin (2,499 m; 8,200 ft) |
|
Hudson Bay |
128 |
420 |
(867 m; 2,846 ft) |
|
North Sea |
94 |
310 |
Skagerrak (700 m; 2,300 ft) |
|
Baltic Sea |
55 |
180 |
Landsort Deep (459 m; 1,506 ft) |
|
Irish Sea |
60 |
200 |
Mull of Galloway (175 m; 576 ft) |
|
English Channel |
54 |
180 |
Hurd Deep (172 m; 565 ft) |
Major Natural Lakes of the World
Conversions for figures may have been rounded, thousands to the nearest hundred and hundreds to the nearest ten.
|
|
|
AREA |
|
|
NAME |
LOCATION |
SQ MI |
SQ KM |
|
Nyasa (Malawi) |
eastern Africa |
11,430 |
29,604 |
|
Great Slave |
Northwest |
11,030 |
28,568 |
|
|
Territories, |
|
|
|
|
Canada |
|
|
|
Erie |
Canada/US |
9,910 |
25,667 |
|
Winnipeg |
Manitoba, |
9,416 |
24,387 |
|
|
Canada |
|
|
|
Ontario |
Canada/US |
7,340 |
19,010 |
|
Aral Sea1 |
Central Asia |
6,711 |
17,382 |
|
|
|
AREA |
|
|
NAME |
LOCATION |
SQ MI |
SQ KM |
|
Caspian Sea |
Central Asia |
149,200 |
386,400 |
|
Superior |
Canada/US |
31,700 |
82,100 |
|
Victoria |
eastern Africa |
26,828 |
69,484 |
|
Huron |
Canada/US |
23,000 |
59,600 |
|
Michigan |
US |
22,300 |
57,800 |
|
Tanganyika |
eastern Africa |
12,700 |
32,900 |
|
Great Bear |
Northwest |
12,096 |
31,328 |
|
|
Territories, |
|
|
|
\ |
Canada |
|
|
Longest Rivers of the World by Continent
This list includes both rivers and river systems. Conversions of rounded figures may be rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 miles or kilometers.
|
|
|
|
LENGTH |
|
NAME |
OUTFLOW |
MI |
KM |
|
Africa |
|
|
|
|
Nile |
Mediterranean Sea |
4,132 |
6,650 |
|
Congo |
South Atlantic Ocean |
2,900 |
4,700 |
|
Niger |
Gulf of Guinea |
2,600 |
4,200 |
|
Zambezi |
Mozambique Channel |
2,200 |
3,540 |
|
Kasai |
Congo River |
1,338 |
2,153 |
|
Asia |
\ |
|
|
|
Yangtze |
East China Sea |
3,915 |
6,300 |
|
Yenisey-Baikal-Selenga |
Kara Sea |
3,442 |
5,539 |
|
Huang He (Yellow) |
Gulf of Chihli |
3,395 |
5,464 |
|
Ob-Irtysh |
Gulf of Ob |
3,362 |
5,410 |
|
Amur-Argun |
Sea of Okhotsk |
2,762 |
4,444 |
|
Europe |
|
|
|
|
Volga |
Caspian Sea |
2,193 |
3,530 |
|
Danube |
Black Sea |
1,770 |
2,850 |
|
Ural |
Caspian Sea |
1,509 |
2,428 |
|
Dnieper |
Black Sea |
1,367 |
2,200 |
|
Don |
Sea of Azov |
1,162 |
1,870 |
|
North America |
|
||
|
Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson |
Gulf of Mexico |
3,710 |
5,971 |
|
Mackenzie-Slave-Peace |
Beaufort Sea |
2,635 |
4,241 |
|
Missouri-Jefferson |
Mississippi River |
2,540 |
4,088 |
|
St. Lawrence-Great Lakes |
Gulf of St. Lawrence |
2,500 |
4,000 |
|
Mississippi |
Gulf of Mexico |
2,350 |
3,782 |
Longest Rivers of the World by Continent
|
|
|
|
LENGTH |
|
NAME |
OUTFLOW |
MI |
KM |
|
Australia |
|
|
|
|
Darling |
Murray River |
1,702 |
2,739 |
|
Murray |
Great Australian Bight |
1,572 |
2,530 |
|
Murrumbidgee |
Murray River |
1,050 |
1,690 |
|
Lachlan |
Murrumbidgee River |
930 |
1,500 |
|
Cooper Creek |
Lake Eyre |
880 |
1,420 |
|
South America |
|
|
|
|
Amazon-Ucayali-Apurfmac |
South Atlantic Ocean |
4,000 |
6,400 |
|
Parana |
Rio de la Plata |
3,032 |
4,880 |
|
Madeira-Mamore-Guapore |
Amazon River |
2,082 |
3,352 |
|
Jurua |
Amazon River |
2,040 |
3,283 |
|
Purus |
Amazon River |
1,995 |
3,211 |
