A large earthquake, measured at 8.9 on the Richter scale hit earlier today off the coast of Japan near the city of Sendai, Miyage Prefecture. As a result a tsunami devasted buildings and farms in the Northern prefecture and the number of casualties is not quite known yet.

Tremors in Tokyo were also felt stopping train lines both above and underground causing many citizens to stay overnight at their workplace.

Some people tweeted;

It was a really big earthquake even in Tokyo. I am in my office and the building is still shaking. All trains stop, so I can’t go home… I am okay but still in my office.

It was huge and scary earthquake in my life. Every train is stopped today in Touhoku and Kanto area, so I have to stay here whole night but I think it is
safe.

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Here is a map of Yakushima Island. It is a natural World Heritage Site since 1993. It is famous for its ancient trees known as Sugi in Japanese, often called Japanese cedar trees. This species of tree is endemic to Japan and some trees are said to be thousands of years old.

It is also a habitat for deer, macaque monkeys and migratory sea turtles and was the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s animation Princess Mononoke. There is mountainous terrain on the island with the highest point reaching 1,935 meters above sea level. It is the southern most part of Japan where snow falls in the mountains. However the ocean temperature is never under 19 degrees Celsius and frequent rainfall causes humid conditions in spring and summer.

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The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world behind the Nile and the Amazon river. It is estimated to be about 6300 km or 3915 miles long. It originates from a glacier located on the eastern side of the Plateau of Tibet.

The Yangtze is heavily polluted due to untreated wastewater discharged into the river. Wildlife like the local population of dolphins has become threatened. Moreover the quality of drinking water for the population living along the river has become degraded.

The Yellow River is the second longest river in China and is approximately 5,464 kilometers or 3,398 miles in length. It has been dubbed the ‘cradle of Chinese civilization’ as it is believed that China’s civilization originated from here.

It also has been nicknamed ‘China’s pride’ as well as ‘China’s sorrow’ as the river is prone to severe floods due to its elevated river bed. The name the ‘Yellow River’ comes from the ochre-yellow color of the river in the lower course of the year. This color is caused by the amount of sediment that is suspended in the waters.

The Yellow River is very polluted mainly due to discharge from industry and household wastewater. Currently it has been estimated that one third of the river is unsuable even for industrial or agricultural use.

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Here’s a map of Japan that I created. It shows the mountainous area of the island nation and as indicated on the map the majority of the land is mountainous and therefore difficult for residential, industrial or agricultural uses.

It is estimated to be about 145,883 square miles in size with 70 to 80% being mountainous. The mountainous areas are usually covered in forest.

Difficulties in traveling across the country have been overcome by technological advances, as Japan is famous for its long railway tunnels that go under the hills and mountains.

Because of Japan’s location at the intersection of three tectonic plates, earthquakes are commonplace. In addition to this, 10% of the world’s active vocanos are found in Japan. The most famous of Japan’s volcanos is mount Fuji, located between Tokyo and Shizuoka, which is still considered active. In the cooler seasons, steam can be seen bellowing out of the top of Mount Fuji.

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Here’s a map of the Sonoran desert that I created.

The Sonoran desert is one of the largest and hottest deserts in North America. It is about 120,000 square miles in size. Despite the harsh conditions the thriving city of Phoenix is located in this desert. Phoenix has a population of over 4 million and is one of the fastest growing cities in the US. The desert is actually losing ground to the urban sprawl around Phoenix.

The Sonoran desert is home to an assortment of cactus species including the famous saguaro cactus, pictured below, which is found only in the Sonoran. There is also a diverse range of animals including the bobcat, coyote, antelope and various reptile species.

cc photo credit: SearchNetMedia

Baja California Satellite Maps

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Here is a map of Perth, Western Australia I created. It shows the main attractions around the Perth metropolitan area. I have included the spots that I believe are a must-see. I have lived in Perth for over 25 years and I have been to each of these locations, some of them numerous times. I highly recommend each of these sightseeing spots, each for their natural beauty and historical significance.

1. Rottnest is an island located about 20km from Fremantle. It is famous for its crystal clear blue waters and a small animal called a quokka.

The quokka is a marsupial, similar to a kangaroo but much smaller. It is found only on the island of Rottnest. They are friendly to tourists and are numerous on the island.

Snorkeling is a must do activity as the waters a very clear, and beautiful coral and fish can be seen.

Rottnest is small enough to ride a bicycle around in a few hours. This is a great way to see the entire island especially its famous salt lakes and coastline. Bikes can be rented for a day at various bike hire venders.

2. Kings Park is located right near the Perth city center. It is located on top of a hill overlooking the city providing a spectacular view of the city and the Swan river.

Within the park, visitors can use the BBQ facilities for free nearby ponds and giant native Western Australian trees. Swimming in the ponds are the famous black swans, the symbol of Western Australia.

There are also many war memorials in the park for those interested in Australian war history.

3. Fremantle is the port city of Perth. Here many historical buildings and museums can be found. I’d recommend seeing the Maritime museum, Fremantle markets and the Fremantle prison.

Fremantle is also famous for its large Italian community and it offers many restaurants and cafes. Tourists can relax and enjoy the pleasant weather in Fremantle’s city center by dining outdoor at one of these cafes or restaurants.

Ferries to Rottnest Island can be caught from Fremantle.

4. Scarborough and Cottesloe beaches are the two most popular beaches in Perth for locals and tourists. In the hot months, December to March people flock to these beaches to enjoy the cool, clean waters.

Scarborough beach is known for its large waves and so it is great for body boarding and surfing. Cottesloe is a favorite place for swimmers or people who want to work on their tan on the white sands.

5. Penguin Island is a small island near the town of Rockingham. As its name suggests, it is the home of the world’s smallest penguins. Dolphins can also be seen around the island. Ferries leave hourly from Rockingham.

6. John Forrest National Park is located 26 kilometers from Perth city in the hills overlooking Perth. Here large native trees can be seen including the Jarrah, Wandoo and Marri species. The clay soil is a red color in contrast to the white sandy soils of the coastal area.

Kangaroos, Echidnas (similar to a hedgehog), Short-Nosed Bandicoots, and Wallabies can sometimes be seen in their natural habitat.

I’d recommend seeing this national park to experience the natural environment that is abundant in the South West of Western Australia.

7. The Swan Valley is an area most famous for its wine growing industry. High quality wines such as Houghton and Sandalford are produced here. Visitors can try wine tasting and enjoy the scenic natural beauty that the Swan valley has to offer.

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On September 2nd a large earthquake hit the southern coast of the island of Java. It was measured at an intensity of 7.3 and has left thousands of homes damaged and at least 40 people dead so far.

The town worst affected by the earthquake is Tasikmalaya, shown in the map above. Tremors could be felt as far as Jakarta in the west and Bali island in the east.

In the capital Jakarta high rise buildings swayed and suffered structural damage. People evacuated buildings and gathered in open spaces as aftershocks continued.

There were also fears of a tsunami and an alert was raised but it has been retracted.

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Wild fires have ravaged parts of Los Angeles, California leaving homes gutted and forcing many families to flee from their houses taking any belongings they can. There have been some reported deaths including at least two firefighters and the fires are expected to burn for a few days.

I have created a map of the areas that have been confirmed affected by the fires so far. Acton and Big Tujunga Canyon have been badly hit by the fires. Yucaipa, located to the East of Los Angeles is the origin of a another fire which police believe was started deliberately. In the San Bernardino area 12,000 homes are said to still be in danger.

Fires in Palos Verdes have been contained.

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This map of Australia shows some of the major tourist spots frequented by many tourists every year. More specifically the locations above are places where some of Australia’s natural treasures can be found.

Cairns is a popular destination for those who like warm weather and water sports. It is a good place to access the beautiful Great Barrier Reef.

Ayers Rock, also known as Uluru, is a huge rock formation located near the town of Alice Springs. It is said to be millions of years old giving it a unique mysteriousness.

Monkey Mia is a small town famous for its bottlenose dolphin population. Tourists can touch and play with the dolphins in their natural habitat.

Ningaloo is the name of a large reef found in Northern Western Australia. It is most famous as being a feeding place for enormous whale sharks.

Albany is a small town located at the southern most point of Western Australia. Here, the meeting point of the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean can be seen. Its a spectacular sight.

Broome is a town found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is famous for its pearling industry. It is also a good point to start exploring places like the Bungle Bungle and Lake Argyle.

Byron Bay is located just south of Brisbane and is famous for it surfing. Whale watching is another favorite activity here.

The Australian Alps are the highest mountain ranges on mainland Australia with some points exceeding 2000 metres in altitude. It is the only place in mainland Australia where snow falls regularly. In winter Kosciuszko is place where skiing and snowbaording is possible.

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This map shows Iraq, it’s major cities, rivers and surrounding countries. I created this map using CAD software. Please feel free to put it on your website, but I request that you place a link on your site back to this page.

Iraq has been dubbed “the cradle of civilization” as it was home to the earliest known civilization. The Sumerian civilization was established along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, around the 6th millennium BC and gave birth to the world’s first writing system. The two rivers are depicted in the map above.

Here are some interesting facts about Iraq.

Capital: Baghdad

Population as of 2009: 31,234,000

Official Languages: Arabic and Kurdish

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