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Made by Romeo Cabrera and Jennifer Garcia

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Victory day is a important holiday in Egypt.

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By:Karen,JazmarieThe Egyptians celebrate Victory Day on December 23. This is not a public holiday, however, it's a very important date for the nation. This holiday marks the end of the Suez Crisis and liberation of Port Said. The Suez Crisis began on October 29, 1956.

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By:Karen,JazmarieThe Egyptians celebrate Victory Day on December 23. This is not a public holiday, however, it's a very important date for the nation. This holiday marks the end of the Suez Crisis and liberation of Port Said. The Suez Crisis began on October 29, 1956.

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by luis arreola and
itzcoatl

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Discover Niger Holidays, Festivals and Traditions

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Egypt, a country linking northeast Africa with the Middle East, dates to the time of the pharaohs. Millennia-old monuments sit along the fertile Nile River Valley, including Giza's colossal Pyramids and Great Sphinx as well as Luxor's hieroglyph-lined Karnak Temple and Valley of the Kings tombs. The capital, Cairo, is home to Ottoman landmarks like Muhammad Ali Mosque and the Egyptian Museum, a trove of antiquities.

Capital: Cairo

Population: 82.06 million (2013) World Bank

President: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Official languages: Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic

Continent: Asia, Africa

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by diego

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by luis arreola
itzcoatl

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Find and save recipes, parenting hacks, style inspiration and other ideas to try.

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Helvetas helps people in some thirty different countries to actively improve their living conditions. Find out more about our work in each of these

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by: Luis Arreola and
itzcoatl Aguilar

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A vast, arid state on the edge of the Sahara desert, Niger is rated by the UN as one of the world's least-developed nations.

Niger fell victim to a series of coups and political instability following its independence from France in 1960.

Today the country struggles in the face of frequent droughts, insurgency and wide-spread poverty. Niger is betting on increased oil exploration and gold mining to help modernize its economy.

But basic rights issues, such as slavery - which was only banned in 2003 and still remains a problem - and a high rate of illiteracy and disease, remain stubborn challenges.

The US has a significant military presence in the country, intended to combat Islamist militants. Niger has become noted as a major transit route for migrants heading to Europe.

See more country profiles - Profiles compiled by BBC Monitoring

FACTS

LEADER
Niger leader: Mahamadou Issoufou
Veteran opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou became president in March 2011 polls that ended a year-long military junta.

The election was aimed at returning democracy after former president Mamadou Tandja was ousted by the army in February 2010 following a decade in power.

The military junta that overthrew him vowed to usher in a civilian government, and none of its members ran in the election.

Mr Issoufou gained another term in a run-off election in March 2016 that was boycotted by supporters of his opponent, Hama Amadou, who had been jailed.

MEDIA

Press freedom in Niger has "improved considerably" since 2010 when Mamadou Tandja was ousted as president, according to Reporters Without Borders. Media offences were decriminalised shortly afterwards although the state still controls much of the nation's broadcasting. Private radio stations have proliferated, however.

Radio is a key news source since literacy levels in the country are low. There is a government-run daily, as well as a handful of private titles.

TIMELINE
Some key events in Niger's history:
1890 - French occupy Niger.

1960 - Niger becomes independent but a severe drought devastates the country, which enters a period of political instability and coups.

1990 - A rebellion starts in northern Niger, adding to the country's political unrest.

2003 - Slavery is outlawed and Niger gains international prominence when then-US President George Bush claims Iraq was trying to obtain uranium from Niger for its nuclear programme.

2005 - UN warns that millions of people face severe malnutrition because of food shortages caused by drought and locust infestations.

2010 - A new constitution designed to restore civilian rule approved in referendum; Mahamadou Issoufou becomes president in 2011.

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A vast, arid state on the edge of the Sahara desert, Niger is rated by the UN as one of the world's least-developed nations. Niger fell victim to a series of coups and political instability following its independence from France in 1960. Today the country struggles in the face of frequent droughts, insurgency and wide-spread poverty.

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By: Imanol & Melissa

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FAST FACTS

OFFICIAL NAME: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional monarchy with parliamentary government

CAPITAL: London

POPULATION: 63,742,977

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: English

MONEY: Pound sterling

AREA: 93,635 square miles (242,514 square kilometers)

MAJOR RIVERS: Thames, Severn, Tyne

GEOGRAPHY

The United Kingdom, also called the U.K., consists of a group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe. It is a unique country made up of four nations: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. England, Wales, and Scotland also make up Great Britain.

Much of the north and west of the U.K. is covered in high ground, knife-edged mountain ridges separated by deep valleys. This terrain was shaped in the last Ice Age, when thick glaciers covered the land.

In the south of England, the countryside is mostly rolling hills.
In northwest England and the Scottish Highlands are dozens of lakes, called lochs. These were left behind when the Ice Age glaciers melted. They tend to be long and narrow, and some are very deep. Legends say that a giant monster called Nessie lives in Loch Ness in Scotland.

PEOPLE & CULTURE
The British are the creation of waves of invaders and migrants, including Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans. In the 1950s and 1960s, people from former colonies in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia came to the United Kingdom to work.

Sports and literature are among the United Kingdom's cultural claims to fame. Soccer, rugby, cricket, boxing, and golf were all invented in Britain. And the U.K. has produced many great writers, including William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Robert Burns. J.K. Rowling, the writer of the Harry Potter books, is British.

NATURE

About 5,000 years ago, the center of the United Kingdom was covered with thick forests. Thousands of years ago, these woodlands were cleared by ancient farmers, and today only about 10 percent of the land is forest.

The United Kingdom's complex geology gives rise to a wide variety of landscapes and a range of habitats for its animal and plant life. But it is a very crowded country, and there are not many truly wild places left. The most successful wildlife species are those that can live alongside people.

Great Britain's rugged mountains, like the Scottish Highlands, offer habitat that is relatively untouched by humans. The country's 7,700 miles (12,429 kilometers) of shoreline, ranging from tall cliffs to beaches to marshes, also provide homes for wildlife such as seabirds and seals.

British Pound Sterling,

Photograph by Norman Pogson, Dreamstime

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY
Britain's system of government has developed over many centuries. Kings once ruled with advice from a council of religious leaders and nobles. This council eventually expanded into the Parliament, which now passes all the country's laws. Today, the monarch (which can be a king or queen) has no real power.

The United Kingdom has been a leading trading nation for more than 500 years. In the 19th century, British industry helped make the country the most powerful nation in the world. It is still one of the strongest economies on Earth.

HISTORY
The first Britons (people who live in the United Kingdom) were the Picts, who arrived about 10,000 years ago. In the eighth century B.C., the Celts arrived from Europe and pushed the Picts north into Scotland. In A.D. 43, the Romans invaded and ruled for nearly 400 years. They built roads, bathhouses, sewers, and large villas.

By the sixth century A.D., German peoples known as Angles, Jutes, and Saxons were moving into Britain. The Angles gave their name to England, and English people became known as Anglo-Saxons. From the 900s to the 1400s, England was ruled by Viking, Danish, and Norman invaders.

In 1485 the Welsh noble Henry Tudor claimed the English crown and became Henry VII, the first of five Tudor monarchs. Several important lines of kings and queens followed.

By the 1800s, Britain was one of the most powerful nations in the world. Trade generated immense wealth, and the country built a huge overseas empire. But the early 20th century was a time of setbacks for Britain. Drained by World War I and II, Britain could no longer afford its empire, and most of its colonies became independent.

Check out the interactive map and discover more countries.

Get Facts, Photos, and videos.

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FAST FACTS OFFICIAL NAME: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional monarchy with parliamentary government CAPITAL: London POPULATION: 63,742,977 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: English MONEY: Pound sterling AREA: 93,635 square miles (242,514 square kilometers) MAJOR RIVERS: Thames, Severn, Tyne GEOGRAPHY The United Kingdom, also called the U.K., consists of a group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe.

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By: yaretzy and stephanie

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The happiest country in the world; a paradise for peace and biodiversity; a green beacon for environmental stewardship-Costa Rica is a country of many accolades. But Costa Rica's history and culture extend far beyond the reach of international recognition. The small Central American nation is home to incredible biodiversity and rich cultures, a passion for freedom, and a history of democracy, equality, and education for all.

Here you'll find interesting info about Costa Rica's culture, facts and some fun trivia. Want to know more? Check out our Travel Guide for cuisine, history, travel tips, traditions, and more.

Culture

Costa Rican culture is a vibrant blend of indigenous heritage and Spanish colonial influence, with a dash of Jamaican, Chinese, and other immigrant cultures lending character and customs. The result is a nation of laid-back, friendly, and happy people. A nation whose official language is Spanish, but where large portions of the populations speak English, Bribri, creole Mekatelyu, and Mandarin Chinese as their first languages.

A nation proud to be without an army (Costa Ricans disbanded their armed forces in 1949). A nation with a long history of public services, including education and healthcare, available to all. A nation proud to share its cultural riches.

Facts About Costa Rica

Simple statistics cannot do justice to Costa Rica's friendly people, stunning terrain, rich lands, and long history. But the facts do paint a colorful picture of this Central American nation, where democracy has prevailed for more than 60 years, Catholicism is the state religion, the government is stable, and the environment is of great importance.

Quick Facts

Before you book your Costa Rica vacation, why not brush up on this handy list of facts?

Geography

Costa Rica is around the same size as Lake Michigan, and slightly smaller than West Virginia.

The U.S. is roughly 181 times larger than Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has more than 800 miles of coastline.

The highest mountain in Costa Rica, Cerro Chirripo, stands at 3,810 meters above sea level.

Although not all of them are active, Costa Rica has around 200 volcanoes.

Costa Rica is home to approximately 5 percent of the world's biodiversity, but only occupies around 0.3 percent of the planet's surface.

Poas Volcano in central Costa Rica has the second-largest volcanic crater in the world.

History

Noted explorer Christopher Columbus first visited what is now Costa Rica in 1502.

Spanish colonists first established a permanent presence in Costa Rica in 1563.

After a short-lived civil war, Costa Rica's constitution was passed in 1949.

Costa Rica hasn't had a national army since 1948.

Costa Rica has one of the oldest democracies in Latin America, having avoided many of the political problems in the region in the 1970s and 1980s.

The People

Costa Rica has a population of just under 5 million people-a little more than half the population of New York City.

Religion plays an important role in Costa Rica's culture, with approximately 76 percent of Costa Ricans identifying as Catholic. In fact, Catholicism is the official religion and impacts laws including the prohibition on both abortion and the death penalty, as well as the requirement that students take religion classes.

Less than 1 percent of Costa Rica's population is of indigenous ancestry, and around 94 percent of Costa Ricans have some of primarily European heritage.

Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica. However, immigration (both recent and early 20th century) has meant that English is spoken natively by many people on both coasts, particularly on the Caribbean side.

Costa Rica has a literacy rate of 97.8 percent, one of the highest in the world.

Famous Costa Ricans include a Nobel Peace Prize winner (Oscar Arias), an astronaut (Franklin Chang), and one of the best goalies in the world (Keylor Navas of Real Madrid).

Flora and Fauna

There are more than 34,000 species of insects in Costa Rica, as well as more than 20,000 species of spider.

Costa Rica is home to more than ten percent of all the species of butterfly in the world.

Costa Rica has around 615 species of animal per 10,000 square miles. By comparison, the U.S. has 104.

Certain species of crocodile, many of which can be found in Costa Rica's rivers, can measure up to 16 feet in length.

The nickname for Costa Ricans is "Ticos". This is because of the habit in Spanish of using the diminutive, and that at a much higher rate than most other Spanish speaking countries. For example, "perro" (dog) will be known as "perrito" (little dog), no matter how big it is! A coffee (café) will be known as a cafecito (little coffee), and so on. This little language quirk gives the Ticos their nickname.

Costa Rica has over 25% of its land area protected as either a national park or wildlife reserve. This is the largest percentage of territory protected out of any other country in the world.

Street names are not regularly used in Costa Rica. In general, addresses are given in terms of distance from a local landmark. For example, the Costa Rican Vacations office has the following address: 100 meters west and 50 meters north of the main entrance to the National Stadium. it definitely is complicated for visitors, but Ticos themselves get around just fine!

Every town, no matter how small, has a church, a soccer field, and a pulpería (corner store). All churches face west in Costa Rica, which is extremely helpful when finding your way around due to the lack of street names!

In Costa Rican taxis, the meter is called the "María." "Toca la Maria, por favor!"

McDonald's are found in Costa Rica. No big deal, you say? Here they actually deliver to your home!!

In Costa Rica you'll hear the expression "pura vida" a lot. And I mean a LOT! Pura vida is used for everything, from hello to goodbye to just showing appreciation. Pura vida is Costa Rica in a nutshell!

The staple diet in Costa Rica is rice and beans. These two basics combine to create probably the greatest breakfast in the world, "gallo pinto." Gallo pinto is a source of national pride in both Costa Rica and neighboring Nicaragua, with both countries claiming the dish as their own.

In the spirit of "pura vida," Costa Rica abolished its army in 1949, saying that they would create "an army of teachers" instead. Decades later, Costa Rica has one of the highest literacy rates in Latin America.

The local liquor in Costa Rica is called "guaro" and is made from sugar cane. It is best enjoyed with slices of mandarin limes, a local citrus with a truly unique flavor.

Costa Rica Trivia

There is plenty more to learn about Costa Rica-all it takes is a visit to find out!

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About Costa Rica - learn Costa Rica facts, history and culture

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The happiest country in the world; a paradise for peace and biodiversity; a green beacon for environmental stewardship-Costa Rica is a country of many accolades. But Costa Rica's history and culture extend far beyond the reach of international recognition.

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Nations of the World -  With Lyrics -  Animaniacs

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By: bryan and max

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Some African tribal traditions are a mystery and a fascination for most of the modern world. Tribal communities sometimes live without many modern comforts the rest of us have. Here are 16 fascinating traditions from several African tribes.

This article was first published Jan. 1, 2014.
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16 Fascinating African Tribal Traditions

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Some members of the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania spit as a way of blessing. Men spit on newborns and say they are bad in the belief that if they praise a baby, it will be cursed. Maasai warriors will also spit in their hands before shaking the hand of an elder.

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Made By Miguel Gomez

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Description

Asia is the largest and most populous continent in the world, sharing borders with Europe and Africa to its West, Oceania to its South, and North America to its East. Its North helps form part of the Arctic alongside North America and Europe. Though most of its continental borders are clearly defined, there are gray areas. Europe and Asia are technically located on the same overall landmass, and combined the two are referred to as Eurasia. As a result of its porous land border, some countries on Asia's western border have been at times referred to as part of Europe's East. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are sometimes referred to as Asian and other times as European. Russia and Turkey tend to be cut into regions. Russia is generally split along the Ural Mountains, with its western half called "European Russia" and its East as simply "Russia." The land between Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, and its direct borders with Bulgaria and Greece is at times referred to as a part of Europe called "Thrace," while the rest of its territory is called "Anatolia" and is part of Asia.

On the other side of the continent, the islands which separate Asia from Oceania can also be difficult to delineate. Indonesia and parts of the Philippines are sometimes categorized as part of Oceania rather than as Asian. This being said, it is important to note that these divided regions do not constitute separate countries or autonomous regions claiming sovereignty (such as the cases of Hong Kong or Palestine). "European Russia" and "Russia" are both simply Russia, and the "Thrace" and "Anatolia" parts of Turkey are both undisputedly part of Turkey, but sometimes the regions are shaded differently on maps in order to help delineate the borders between Asia and Europe.

Asia is often divided into culturally and geographically similar regions. Although definitions, names, and borders can vary, generally the regions of Asia include West Asia (which is part of the Middle East), the Caucasus (sometimes also considered as part of the Middle East), Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia (also called the Indian Subcontinent), and Southeast Asia. West Asia is sometimes referred to as the Middle East, with is actually a misnomer since the cultural region we define as the Middle East often included countries outside of Asia, such as Egypt in Africa and Cyprus in Europe. West Asia specifically includes the countries within the region of Asia bordered by the Mediterranean and Red Seas to the West and the Persian Gulf, the Gulfs of Aden and Oman, and the Arabian Sea to the South.

Countries within West Asia include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Just northeast of Turkey lies the Caucasus, a mountainous region wedged between the Black Sea to the West and the Caspian Sea to the East. The Caucasus includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Russia. Central Asia is located just north of Iran and Afghanistan and south of Russia, consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. East Asia defines the region between Central Asia, Russia, and the Pacific Ocean roughly up to the beginning of the Tropic of Cancer.

The countries of East Asia include China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Mongolia (as well as Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan). South Asia is also referred to as the Indian Subcontinent, separated from East Asia by the Himalayan Mountains between China and India and defined largely by the Indian Tectonic Plate on which its countries largely rest. South Asian countries include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Lastly, the Southeast Asian region defines the tropical and equatorial countries between South and East Asia to the North and Oceania to the South. The countries of Southeast Asia include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (or Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor (or Timor-Leste), and Vietnam.

It is worth reiterating that these regional borders are as porous as Asia's continental borders, and some countries can be organized differently. Pakistan can be West instead of South Asian, Afghanistan can be Central or South rather than West Asian, and so on. Finally, it is also worth noting that Russia is not included in any of these regions. As it is the largest country in the world, Russia's territory actually stretches across the entirety of Asia's border from East to West. It cannot be categorized into any of these regions alone and so is kept separate.

There are also several unrecognized and partially recognized states within Asia. Palestine, which is made up of the Gaza Strip and West Bank regions in and around Israel, declared its independence in 1988 and is currently recognized as independent by 134 countries, though it is not an official member of the United Nations and is not considered to be its own country by every G-8 nation except Russia. Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia are all located in the Caucasus and all declared their independence during the 1990s, with limited recognition internationally.

Northern Cyprus declared its independence in 1983 but is only recognized as a sovereign state within the UN by Turkey, with every other member considering it as simply part of Cyprus. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are all considered by China to be a part of its territory, but each see themselves as either entirely independent (in the case of Taiwan) or fully autonomous (in the cases of Hong Kong and Macau), operate largely autonomously in terms of currency and government, and have varying degrees of international recognition as separate states. Taiwan actually operates under various names as a result of its contested statehood: it refers to itself officially as the Republic of China (or ROC), invoking the state which governed the mainland until the Chinese Civil War and takeover of power by the Communist Party of China in 1949, and today's mainland China (officially the People's Republic of China, or PRC) calls it Chinese Taipei, but internationally it is most commonly called Taiwan (the name of the state's largest island).

Geography

Asia's immense size lends itself to a variety of different geographical landscapes, depending on its region. West Asia has some of the highest temperatures on the planet as a result of its warm desert climate. Factoring in the heat index and wind speeds, summers in the region have risen to dangerous temperatures, with parts of Iraq and Iran having recorded feel-like temperatures of over 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius). Inversely, Asia is also home to the coldest weather in the populated world (excluding Antarctica), which was recorded as -90 degrees Fahrenheit (-67.7 degrees Celsius) and occurred in two Russian towns: Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon. Most of the northern half of Russia is characterized by continental subarctic climates similar to Alaska and much of Canada, and its far north is classified as an arctic tundra comparable to the far north of the Canadian territories or the coasts of Greenland.

Both extremes in precipitation can also be found on the Asian continent. Some of the driest places on Earth are located in the desert climates of West Asia, the steppes of Central Asia, and parts of China and Mongolia. At the same time, the northeast Indian village of Mawsynram is the absolute wettest place on Earth, with an average of 467.4 inches (11,872 millimeters) of rainfall per year. South Asia has a mixture of the monsoon weather which lends itself to such heavy precipitation along with tropical savannas with intense heat. Climate patterns involving the Indian and Pacific Oceans cause much of East Asia to have temperate weather with a heavy monsoon season, particularly in Eastern China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea and most of southern Japan. Much of continental Southeast Asia has a savannah climate similar to some of the drier parts of South Asia, while its island portions between Asia and Oceania are distinct for their tropical rainforests.

The various climates of Asia also allow it to have many different geographical features, such as mountains, rivers, and deserts. The Himalayas, home to Bhutan and Nepal and separating South Asia from China, is the tallest mountain range in the world and its highest peak, Mount Everest, is the tallest mountain on Earth. Three major Asian rivers are also sourced from the Himalayas, the Brahmaputra, the Ganges, and the Indus, which each approach 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers) in length. However, the longest river in Asia is actually the Yangtze River, which runs from the southwest region of Tibet all the way to the Pacific coastal city of Shanghai and measures at 1,790 miles (2,880 kilometers) in length.

The Syrian and Arabian Deserts of West Asia count among the world's largest deserts, as does the Gobi Desert between China and Mongolia, in Central Asia. It is also worth noting that many of these massive landscapes are actually the underlying causes of Asia's various weather patterns. The height of the Himalayas, for example, blocks rainclouds coming from the Indian Ocean and pushes them back into the Indian Subcontinent while simultaneously keeping northern cold air from travelling any farther south, accounting for both the hot monsoon weather of South Asia and the cold deserts and steppes of Central Asia.

The largest continent on Earth, Asia's total size is roughly 17,212,048 square miles (44,579,000 square kilometers), or 30% of the planet's total landmass. The largest countries of Asia include Russia (6.6 million square miles or 17.1 million square kilometers), China (3.7 million square miles or 9.6 million square kilometers), India (1.3 million square miles or 3.3 million square kilometers), and Kazakhstan (1.05 million square miles or 2.7 million square kilometers). Asia's smallest countries are Maldives (120 square miles or 300 square kilometers), Singapore (278 square miles or 719 square kilometers), Bahrain (295 square miles or 765 square kilometers), and Brunei (2,226 square miles or 5,765 square kilometers). If Hong Kong and Macau are recognized as separate countries, then Macau (12.1 square miles or 31.3 square kilometers) is the smallest country in Asia and Hong Kong (1,064 square miles or 2,755 square kilometers) is the fourth-smallest.

History

Due to its immense size and diverse populations, it is nearly impossible to offer a unified history of Asia. The continent is the birthplace of nearly all major religions in the world today, as well as a vast number of technological and civilizational advancements. West Asia is at times called the "Cradle of Civilization," as it was here that Neolithic humans first began its transition from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle, inventing the wheel and basic agriculture in order to do so. The West Asia was also home to the first known human civilizations, such as Ancient Sumer and the ancient Assyrian, Babylonian, and Akkadian empires. Meanwhile, the Indus Valley Civilization (or Harappan Civilization) was the first known civilization formed in South Asia, and in East Asia the Xia Dynasty would be the first recorded account of Ancient China.

Most of the world's earliest belief systems trace their origins back to Asia. West Asia saw the creation of the first Kingdom of Israel, which fostered early Judaism, the birth of Jesus Christ and onset of early Christianity, and the birth of the Prophet Muhammad and the initial spread of Islam. Forms of early Hinduism were practiced in South Asia as far back as the Indus Valley Civilization, and it was codified as a religion during the Vedic Period which followed it. The South Asian country of Nepal was the birthplace of the initial Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, and the subsequent proliferation of Buddhism influenced much of Central, East, South, and Southeast Asia. Parshvanatha, the oldest historical leader of Jainism, was born in South Asia, as was Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Taoism has origins in East Asia stretching back to the very onset of Ancient China, perhaps even prehistoric China. East Asia also saw the birth of Kong Qiu, known in the West as Confucius, and the spread of Confucianism. The Shinto religion has ancient origins on the Japan ese islands, though its first recorded history began alongside the rise of early imperial dynasties there during the Medieval Period.

Demographics

With a population of roughly 4.4 billion, or 62% of the global population (about 7.1 billion), Asia is by far the most populated continent on the planet. The most populous countries in Asia are China (1.4 billion people), India (1.3 billion people), Indonesia (259 million people), and Pakistan (193 million people). Asia's least populated countries are Maldives (341 thousand people), Brunei (412 thousand people), Bhutan (771 thousand people), and East Timor (1.2 million people). If Hong Kong and Macau are included as countries, then Macau (647 thousand people) becomes the third-least populous country in Asia.

Several different religions are widely spread throughout the Asian continent. This being said, Islam is followed by about 1.1 billion people, or 25% of the continent, making it the most popular religion in Asia. Islam is particularly popular in West Asia, where it is the sole official religion of many countries and is practiced by close to 100% of the populations of countries like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. However, most Muslims actually live in South and Southeast Asia. Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan have Muslim populations of well over 100 million, while the Southeast Asian country of Indonesia has more adherents to Islam than any other country, with over 200 million Muslims. The second-largest religion in Asia is Hinduism, which follows close behind Islam with roughly 1 billion adherents. Hinduism is strongest in India and Nepal (where it is followed by over 80% of the population), but it also has strong minority populations in several Southeast and West Asian countries. Christianity is also fairly widespread, with the majority of people in Armenia, Georgia, and Russia following various Orthodox churches, East Timor and the Philippines adhering to Roman Catholicism, and South Korea largely following Protestantism (though with a sizeable minority of Roman Catholics).

Other notable religions in Asia include Sikhism and Jainism (which are found mostly in India and Pakistan), Judaism (with Israel being the only country in the world with a majority Jewish population), and Zoroastrianism (the first Iranian religion and still practiced in parts of modern Iran and other countries). After Islam and Hinduism, however, irreligion technically counts as the third-widest "religion" in Asia. Roughly 21% of the continent claims not to have any particular religious affiliation, especially in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and North Korea. This fact can be partly explained by Communist state policies in China and North Korea regarding religion, but also by the nature of the traditionally prevalent religions of East Asia. Confucianism and Taoism (or Daoism) are more akin to philosophical traditions than the organized religions practiced in other societies, and indeed the Chinese state promotes some specifically Confucian tenants, while Japan's Shinto belief system involves a relatively disunified set of religious traditions and folkloric tales. Thus it is the case that much of China's population can be considered as somewhere between Confucian, Taoist, or irreligious, and that roughly 80% of Japanese citizens practice Shinto but less than 5% can really be called "Shintoist."

Asia is home to a staggering number of languages ranging from local tongues spoken by only a few inhabitants to international languages used in entire regions. Regarding international languages, the most widely spoken language on the continent is Mandarin, which is spoken by 1.3 billion people and is an official language in China, Singapore, and Taiwan. Russian also crosses official language borders, being the official language of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan (alongside various other state and regional languages) and having roughly 260 million speakers. Arabic is perhaps the third major international language, recognized as official in most of the countries in West Asia and spoken by about 230 million people. It is also worth mentioning that English is internationally popular throughout Asia. Though it does not have many recognized native speakers, it is recognized as an official or regional language in Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Singapore. For languages concentrated around specific countries, Hindi is India's national language (though it recognized a plethora of regional tongues), and with roughly 400 million speakers it is also the second-most popular language in Asia. Other populous national languages include Indonesian (240 million speakers), Bengali (150 million speakers), Japanese (120 million speakers), and Filipino (90 million speakers), though most other countries in Asia also have their own national languages.

Additional Asia Geography Notes

Burma: Military authorities have promoted the name Myanmar since 1989 as the conventional name for their state. That decision was not ( and is not) approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and is not accepted by the U.S. government. However, Myanmar is widely accepted by numerous countries, and by the United Nations.

European Russia: The Russian landmass west of the Ural Mountains is commonly referred to as European Russia in most educational atlases, and by the vast majority of geography experts. It is not a separate country, but rather called that because of its political, cultural and geographical blendings with Europe. For reference purposes it is shown above to the west of the dashed-line, however, the entire country ( as a whole) is still considered part of the continent of Asia.

Middle East: Countries considered part of the Middle East (or West Asia) are shown in a lighter shade of gray. Note that they are all still a part of the continent of Asia.

Opinions vary as to what countries make up the modern definition of Asia and the Middle East. Historically, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been long associated with the Middle East, but in recent years, some sources now consider them to be more closely aligned with Europe based on their modern economic and political trends. We have moved in that direction, and the same can be said for the island country of Cyprus.

Taiwan is still considered by China to be its 23rd province, and not an independent country. Very few other country governments accept China's claims of sovereignty over Taiwan.

Turkey is officially, politically and geographically considered part of both Asia and Europe. The small northwestern portion of Turkey named ( Thrace) is a recognized part of Europe, while the largest part ( Anatolia) is located in the Middle East, a part of Asia.

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Asia is the largest and most populous continent in the world, sharing borders with Europe and Africa to its West, Oceania to its South, and North America to its East. Its North helps form part of the Arctic alongside North America and Europe. Though most of its continental borders are clearly defined, there are gray areas.

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By: Jazmarie and Karen
Egypt

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By:Luis p and Zulma

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Facts & Figures

President: Tabaré Vázquez (2015)

Land area: 67,035 sq mi (173,621 sq km); total area: 68,039 sq mi (176,220 sq km)

Population (2014 est.): 3,332,972 (growth rate: 0.26%); birth rate: 13.18/1000; infant mortality rate: 8.97/1000; life expectancy: 76.81; density per sq mi: 48.86

Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Montevideo, 1,947,604 (metro. area), 1,305,082 (city proper)

Monetary unit: Uruguay peso

More Facts & Figures

Facts & Figures

President: Tabaré Vázquez (2015)

Land area: 67,035 sq mi (173,621 sq km); total area: 68,039 sq mi (176,220 sq km)

Population (2014 est.): 3,332,972 (growth rate: 0.26%); birth rate: 13.18/1000; infant mortality rate: 8.97/1000; life expectancy: 76.81; density per sq mi: 48.86

Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Montevideo, 1,947,604 (metro. area), 1,305,082 (city proper)

Monetary unit: Uruguay peso

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Hong Kong's popolation is 7,364,441

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* Brazil is the largest country in South America
*The name Brazil comes from a tree named Brazilwood
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*Brazil is the only country that speaks Portuguese

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Ecuador has many climate zones, from tropical along coast to cooler and dryer inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands. Ecuador is unusual in that one can choose any climate one wishes by where in the country one travels to.

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The name Macau is derived from the Chinese A-ma-gao bay of A-MA . A-ma was the name of a Chinese goddess

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Culture of Haiti - history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family

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Culture of Haiti - history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family Ge-It

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by Diego

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Countries of Africa Song - From "Tap the World!"

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Learn the countries of Africa with this catchy song! (Minus a few.) Want to learn the rest? Check out "Tap the World!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtS4RdhJYG4 Lyrics: DRC, Angola, Namibia Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa Botswana's in the middle, Lesotho is little Swaziland is smaller, Mozambique and then Malawi Tanzania, Kenya, Ooo Uganda!

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My country is Italy the capital of Italy is Rome

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by: Itzcoatl Aguilar and
Luis arreola

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Europe's population is  59.83 million (2013) -From google maps-    *Made by Francisco Ray Adame and Francisco Rocha-

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Club de Niños y Centro Juvenil - Dionisio Díaz

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pirate activites for school age children

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A to Z Kids Stuff | Saudi Arabia Facts for Children

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Information, history, facts, and activities on Saudi Arabia for school-age children.

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25 Interesting Facts About Europe That Most People Don’t Know

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Bolivian Culture - Culture in Bolivia | don Quijote

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Bolivian culture is very diverse, it includes people of Spanish origin, descendants of the colonisers, indigenous groups from the Andes and mestizos.

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Vietnam Traditions

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Heo Sua Saigon Street Foods Night Life Ho Chi Minh City

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http://www.journeymekong.com/ JOURNEYMEKONG is an official affiliate of Vietnamtourism-Hanoi that is a well-established tour-operator and destination management company in Vietnam & Indochina. Founded in 1960, we are a leading inbound travel specialist in the area with great commitment to professionalism in high service quality, great value for money and excellent customer care.

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China

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So what's the Chinese bad luck number?

It isn't 13... If you get on an elevator, what's the missing number on the pad? You will notice the number 4 is missing... yes, Chinese consider this a "bad luck" number as the pronunciation "suh" sounds similar to the Chinese character for "death".

In contrast, the number 8 "bâ" sounds similar to the word for "wealth" and is therefore considered a very lucky number. The Beijing Summer Olympics started on 08/08/08 at precisely 08:08:08 p.m.

Some variations exist because of the different pronunciations across China. So you might find that in some places the number 4 might be a lucky number.

So get ready to learn a bit more about different aspects of Chinese Culture, from food to festivals, to dragons and dogs. Dogs? Yes! 2018 is the Year of the Dog!

Let's start with some basics like the common traditions and celebrations as well as the many symbols that are unique to Chinese culture:

Yin and Yang

Feng Shui

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It isn't 13... If you get on an elevator, what's the missing number on the pad? You will notice the number 4 is missing... yes, Chinese consider this a "bad luck" number as the pronunciation "suh" sounds similar to the Chinese character for "death".

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Countries of Africa Song - From "Tap the World!"

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Learn the countries of Africa with this catchy song! (Minus a few.) Want to learn the rest? Check out "Tap the World!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtS4RdhJYG4 Lyrics: DRC, Angola, Namibia Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa Botswana's in the middle, Lesotho is little Swaziland is smaller, Mozambique and then Malawi Tanzania, Kenya, Ooo Uganda!

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Chinese Family Culture and Traditions Project Video