Running almost the full length of South America on its western coast, the Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world. This remote and harsh environment saw the rise and fall of one of the great ancient civilizations of the world, the Incas. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Andes mountain range, and how it is intertwined with the cultures and ways of life of the people in South America who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
Home of two of the world's highest peaks - Mount Everest and K2 - the Himalayas are both revered and feared by mountaineers around the world. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Himalaya mountain range, and how it is intertwined with the cultures and ways of life of the people in South Asia who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
The Great Appalachian Valley, a major land form of the Appalachian mountains, played an important role in the early history of the United States. Routes through the valley, first made by Native Americans, made the mountains passable, later allowing European immigrants to expand colonization of the region. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the mountain ranges that form the Appalachians, and the people in the United States and Canada who live in their shadows. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in these mountain habitats, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
The famous peaks of the Alps - Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, the Eiger - have inspired adventure seekers, poets, and philosophers throughout history. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Alps mountain range, and how it is intertwined with the cultures and ways of life of the people in Europe who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
Metal ores are one of the Earth's most common minerals. Metals are useful in all types of industry because they last a long time, are conductors of electricity, and can be easily shaped. Since the first metal alloy was created more than 6,000 years ago during the Bronze Age, people have recognized the potential of extracting metallic elements from rock. Metals traces the history, uses, methods of extraction, and future of one of our most versatile resources. Topics include: early use of metals during the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and the Copper Age which countries have the most deposits of metal ores, and how much metal different countries use extracting metals from ores by use of smelting, flotation, and leaching the equipment that geologists use to locate metal deposits in ore the lives of miners, including their working conditions, the equipment they use, and the dangers that they encounter working in open-pit and underground mines the role that recycling plays in saving our environment and how metals are recycled
The United States of America is a big, beautiful country. United States the Land celebrates the third-largest country in the world. Part of North America, the United States is bordered by Canada, Mexico, and two oceans. Young readers will learn about the history of the United States, as well as about the climate, agriculture, and natural landforms across the country's various regions.
This entertaining book follows the travels of Italian merchant and adventurer Marco Polo who traveled across Asia. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major journeys, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include what led Polo to travel to China, the Silk Road, life in Central Asia, the Chinese empire, Polo's famous book, and his legacy.
This entertaining book follows the travels of Americans Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, explorers of the American West. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in an entertaining tabloid style that guides readers through a voyage of discovery. Topics include what led Lewis and Clark to become explorers, colonies in North America, The Corps of Discovery, and Sacagawea.
This engaging book follows the travels of French nobleman Sieur de la Salle who expanded the fur trade in North Americathen called New Franceand explored the Mississippi River down to the Gulf of Mexico. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include La Salles quest for a new trade route to China, life in New France, interactions with the Seneca, the fur trade, sailing down the Mississippi, and La Salle's legacy.
This exciting book follows the travels of Viking explorer Leif Eriksson from Iceland to Greenland and on to North America. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include what led Eriksson to sail west, Viking exploration, life on Viking longships, North American settlements, and Eriksson's legacy.
This informative book follows the travels of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Len to the Caribbean and Florida. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include Ponce de Lens trip to the New World on Columbus second voyage, being appointed a governor in the Caribbean, his actions toward the Taino people, life in the Spanish colonies, claiming Florida for Spain, and his legacy.
This engaging book follows the travels of French mapmaker and navigator Samuel de Champlain as he mapped out the St. Lawrence River and the North American Coast. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in an entertaining tabloid style. Topics include what first led Samuel de Champlain to the New World, his role as the Father of New France and the St. Lawrence River, accurate mapmaking, establishing trade networks, and the legacy of Champlain.
This fascinating book follows the travels of English explorer and sea navigator Henry Hudson. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in an entertaining tabloid style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include what led Hudson to become an explorer, Northern exploration, life on sea voyages, merchant companies, and Hudsons legacy.
This engaging book follows the travels of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in an entertaining tabloid style as Columbus navigates his way to the New World. Topics include what led Columbus to become an explorer, early beliefs about the geography of the world, life on sea voyages, failed colonies, and the legacy of Columbus.
This fascinating book follows French explorer Jacques Cartier to the New World where he claimed the new territory called Canada for France. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in a tabloid-news style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include what led Cartier to sail west, life on board ship, Cartier's exploration along the St. Lawrence, his interactions with the Iroquois, establishing French settlements in Canada, and Cartier's legacy.
This fascinating book explains to young children why the land on Earth has different shapes in different places. Amazing photographs and illustrations show examples of continents, mountains, valleys, plains, and caves, as well as the forests, animals, and water that may be found on each landform. Simple text also describes what volcanoes are and how lava flows can create mountains. The role that weather, such as rain and strong wind, plays in shaping sand dunes, mesas, buttes, and canyons is also described.
This fascinating book explores the growth and spread of Muslim peoples from the early 600s to the end of the Ottoman Empire. Early Islamic empires spread from the Middle East to the far corners of Asia and into Europe. The stories of the Umayyds, Abbasids, Al-Andalus, Fatimids, Crusades, Mongols, Safavids, and the Moghul and Ottoman empires are revealed. Key conquests and battles including the Crusades are detailed.
This colorful book describes the geological makeup and history of the Kalahari Desert in Africa. Covering most of Botswana, as well as portions of Namibia and South Africa, the Kalahari is not a true desert because it receives more than ten inches (250 mm) of rain each year. But the rain drains and evaporates quickly leaving no water on the surface of the red sand. Readers will learn about the variety of habitats in this vast desert system that support many different kinds of plants and animals such as springboks, giraffes, elephants, and zebras. Special sections also describe the Kalahari's natural resources, indigenous people, and the unique problems facing this region.
This intriguing book describes the geological makeup and history of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and China. Temperatures can get very cold and frost and snow are not unusual. Readers will learn about the variety of habitats in this vast desert system that support many different kinds of plants and animals such as camels, snow leopards, and bears. The Gobi Desert is also where the first dinosaur egg fossils were found. Special sections describe the desert's natural resources, such as copper and gold, and the unique problems facing this region such as the desert's alarming rate of desertification.
What are Forests? brings to life the wondrously complex and diverse ecosystems found in forests around the world. Intricate relationships and concepts are explained in a simple way with the help of beautiful color photographs. Children will be fascinated by the earth's many types of forests, the elements that make up a forest ecosystem, the wide range of plant and animal species that live in different forests, and the importance of forests to the rest of the Earth.
The constantly changing ecosystems of salt and freshwater wetlands support an amazing variety of wildlife species. Children will be intrigued by the fascinating animals that depend on wetlands, such as alligators and hippopotamuses, and the plants that grow there. This engaging book investigates swamps, salt marshes, and flood plains, the many plants and animals that live in wetlands, and the threats to these ecosystems and their wildlife.
Biomes are the major communities of plants and animals in our world. Children will love learning about life in everything from the chilly arctic tundra biome to dry, grassy savannahs.
Spotlight on the Philippines introduces this fascinating country in the Pacific Ocean, which is made up of over 7,000 islands. Children will learn about the daily lives of the people and the country's unique culture festivals and dances.
Spotlight on Italy introduces children to a country that has influenced the world throughout history. Children will be taken on a tour of the country from the towering Alps to the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean islands. The daily lives of modern Italians is also presented along with their customs and traditions.
Spotlight on Russia gives children a fascinating introduction to the largest country in the world, which is part of two continents! Wonderful photographs feature Russias many diverse people, its unique plants and animals, and its dramatic landscape, including beautiful Lake Baikal. The traditions and symbols of Russia are also featured from classical ballet to the Moscow circus.
