Brush your Geography & Economics

Brush Your Geography & ECONOMICS

I have not been much of a travel person, but I desire to travel the world like a billion wishing to. In addition to it, I would want to leave my name’s initial, i.e. “A”, as a mark on the world by travelling these 7 cities in the 6 continents:

Moving to the informative data, Global growth is in slow mode!

Uncertainty has dominated the economic and business news in recent months.
As there are many negative factors (volatility in oil prices, and the further weakening of the UK economy), global GDP growth is now projected at 2.5 percent, which is 0.3 percentage point lower than the November outlook.  
Let us go through the geographical diversity and economic outlook of the 7 Continents:
 

1. Asia

Geography:

Asia is the World’s largest continent covering approximately 30% of the Earth’s land and 8.66% of the Earth’s surface.
The highest point in the World, is Mount Everest (8,848 m), situated in the Tibetan region of the Himalayas. 

There are 53 countries in Asia including Russia and Turkey which lie in both Europe and Asia and Taiwan which is technically a part of China and not officially recognised as a country by the United Nations.

Economic Outlook:

Asia is the most populated continent containing around 60% of the World's population. The population of Asia is growing with a growth rate of approximately 2%.
Economic growth in Asia has improved living standards for millions of people, but there remains a huge poverty problem and the gap between rich and poor is growing.
According to World data records around 60% of the world's poorest people live in Asia.
Given the enormous quantity of cheap labour in the region, particularly in China and India, where large workforces provide an economic advantage over other countries, the rising standard of living will eventually lead to a slow-down.
The nuclear neighbors—Pakistan and India—constantly pose a threat to each other, causing their governments to invest heavily in military spending.
Military intervention by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan has also inflamed extremism and resulted in several terrorist attacks in a number of Asian countries.
Another impending crisis is the depletion of oil reserves in the Middle East.


2. Africa

Geography:

Africa is the World's second-largest continent covering approximately 20% of the Earth's land and 6% of the Earth's surface.
The longest river in the World, The Nile, measuring 6,695 km - flows north ending in a delta that empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
The World's largest desert, The Sahara, measuring 9,000,000 km², covers much of North Africa. 
There are 53 countries in Africa.
The desert regions are the least populated while the most populated areas are in the north, south and around the Gulf of Guinea.
Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producing region.

Economic Outlook:

Africa is a resource-rich continent but many African people are poor.
About 70% of Africa's population rely on agriculture for income and times of drought can produce severe hardship.
The climate of Africa together with the effects of the Slave Trade, colonisation, international trade and internal wars and conflicts make Africa the World's poorest continent.
Africa's economy—with expanding trade, English language skills (official in many Sub-Saharan countries), improving literacy and education, availability of splendid resources and cheaper labour force—is expected to continue to perform better into the future.


3. Antarctica

Geography:

Antarctica is the World's fifth-largest continent measuring covering approximately 8.9% of the Earth's land and 2.7% of the Earth's surface. 98% of the land area is permanently covered with ice.
There are no countries in Antarctica but various regions have been named.
There is no native population, but during the warmer summer months scientists man weather and research stations around the continent.

Economic outlook: Not applicable.


4. Australasia/Oceania

Geography:

Australasia, also called Oceania, is the World's smallest continent covering approximately 5.3% of the Earth's land and 1.5% of the Earth's surface.
Australasia is the flattest continent with much of Australia being desert.
There are 28 countries and Island groups in Australasia/Oceania.
Australasia/Oceania is the least populated continent after Antarctica.
It contains around 0.5% of the World's population with a growth rate of approximately 1.3% per year.
Eastern and south-eastern Australia, northern New Zealand and the Pacific islands are the most populated while the desert region of Australia is the least populated.

Economic Outlook:

Australia and New Zealand are the most economically developed countries.
Oceania has a widely varied economy, with the large nations of Australia and New Zealand having modern, industrial economies, while the smaller island nations depend largely on agriculture, fishing, and tourism.


5. Europe

Geography:

Europe is the World's second-smallest continent - 10,180,000 km² covering approximately 6.7% of the Earth's land and 2% of the Earth's surface.
The longest river in Europe is the Volga (2,850 km) in Russia.
The highest mountain is Elbrus (5,642 m) in Russia.
There are 47 countries in Europe including Turkey and Russia which lie in both Europe and Asia.
Europe is the third most populated continent with a total population of around 729,000,000 (2006) about 11% of the World's population.
Southern England, western Germany, the Netherlands and northern Italy are the most populated areas while Iceland, northern Scandinavia and northern Russia are the least populated.

Economic Outlook:

The Eurozone as a whole had become more stable, however problems in Greece and slow recovery in Italy and in Iberia (Spain and Portugal) continue in keeping growth in the Euro area to a minimum.
Europe has the largest economy of the world with Germany and the United Kingdom being the most economically developed countries.

The countries of central and eastern Europe are the least economically developed and are poorer in relation to the western countries.


6. North America

Geography:

North America is the World's third-largest continent - 24,474,000 km² covering approximately 16.5% of the Earth's land and 5% of the Earth's surface.
The eastern side of the continent is generally lower than the west which contains the Rocky mountains.
The highest mountain is Mt McKinley in Alaska (6,194 m) and the longest river is the Mississippi (3,765 km).
There are 38 countries and Islands in North America.
North America is the fourth most populated continent with a total population of around 520,000,000 (2005) about 5.5% of the World's population.

Economic Outlook:

The economy of North America comprises more than 565 million people (8% of the world population) in its 23 sovereign states and 15 dependent territories.
It is marked by a sharp division between the predominantly English speaking countries of Canada and the United States, which are among the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world, and countries of Central America and the Caribbean in the former Latin America that are less developed.


7. South America

Geography:

South America is the World's fourth-largest continent - 17,840,000 km² covering approximately 12% of the Earth's land and 3.5% of the Earth's surface.
The eastern side of the continent is generally lower than the west which contains the Andes mountain range.
The second-longest river in the World, the Amazon (6,400 km) flows across the top of the continent.
Argentina is home to the highest mountain Aconcagua (6960 m) and the World's highest waterfall - Angel Falls  (979 m).
There are 16 countries and Islands in South America.
South America is the fifth most populated continent with a total population of around 371,000,000 (2005).
Brazil is the most economically developed country but the economies of Argentina, Venezuela, Peru and Uruguay are growing the most quickly.

Economic Outlook:

South America has a rapidly developing economy.

With many industries and a flourishing trade and import-export market, it is fast becoming a economy with considerable size.
South American countries had a slow pace of economic development in the past.
In recent times, however, South America has as a whole undergone rapid economic development.
The biggest individual economies in South America are those of Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile. Currently undergoing massive growth are the economies of Argentina, Venezuela and Peru.



www.naturalhistoryonthenet.com
www.mapsofworld.com
www.wikipedia.com