From the Publisher

Prisoners of Geography; Young Readers Edition

Numerous Nations

In the USA, one main language and culture spread very quickly, creating a single giant country. Europe, however, is split into many different countries—each with its own languages and cultures—that developed over thousands of years, shaped by the land’s natural barriers.

Prisoners of Geography; Map of Mississippi

The Mississippi Basin

All the rivers in the basin flow into the Mississippi River, which begins near Minneapolis and runs 2,300 miles (3,700 km) down to New Orleans on the Gulf of Mexico.

China: The Geography

China’s borders are well protected by natural defenses: In the north is the harsh Gobi Desert, to the west lies the mountainous terrain of the mighty Himalayas, and to the southwest, along the border with Myanmar for example, is thick jungle. But until recently, China didn't have had a strong navy to protect its coastline.

The True Size of Africa

Africa is much bigger than some people realize. On a standard map of the world, it looks roughly the same size as the USA, but it is actually three times bigger. You could fit the USA, India, China, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Japan, and the UK into Africa and still have room for most of Eastern Europe!