Books in National Geographic Countries, the World series

Created for all global citizens, this universally respected volume of world maps has been completely revised and updated with fascinating visualizations of international trends and global conditions.National Geographic's flagship Atlas of the World, now in its 11th edition, provides authoritative maps of every country, ocean, and region of the world, as well as thematic maps and accompanying graphics showing important population, environmental, and economic patterns. Organized by continent and reflecting today's political boundaries and identities, this authoritative atlas is an indispensable reference for schools and libraries, as well as the latest resource for home browsing and study. A thematically organized opening section uses current data to visualize urgent concerns, such as Earth's last wild places, changing freshwater availability, human migration and refugee movement, and human rights conditions globally. The back of the book contains basic facts and flags of every country, as well as a comprehensive index cross-referencing more than 150,000 place names. A thought-provoking foreword by Alexander M. Tait, The Geographer of National Geographic, begins the book.

Marking the 100th anniversary of National Geographic cartography, this prestigious reference is the essential guide to understanding today's interconnected world. Illustrated maps and informational graphics chart rapidly changing global themes such as population trends, urbanization, health and longevity, human migration, climate change, communications, and the world economy. The core of any atlas is the reference mapping section and the 10th Edition boasts the largest and most comprehensive collection of political maps ever published by National Geographic. Completely updated and expanded by sixteen pages, this section features new maps of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, three detailed regional maps of Australia, expanded coverage of Africa, and a map of the strategically important area around the Mediterranean Sea, encompassing North Africa and Southern Europe. In addition, special sections are dedicated to the Oceans, Space, and Flags and Facts. These are followed by an expanded index, with more than 150,000 place names. The 10th Edition's high-quality construction and large format make it a centerpiece to gather around as well as the perfect reference tool for understanding how the present and past continually collide in today's fast-paced world.

Visit Poland, ancestral homeland of millions of Americans. Follow the ever-changing fate of the Polish state: from inception in 966, through kingdom and commonwealth status, through occupation and communism, to today's "Third Polish Republic." Learn of Poland's newest role as a full member of the European Union. Meet Nobel Prize winner Lech Walesa, the Solidarity Union leader who challenged the communist authorities in the 1980s and became president in 1990.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Learn more about Germany, whose post-war recovery resulted in reunification. In the year after the opening of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, Western political and economic systems were introduced in the East, and two radically different societies began to merge. Germany was reunited on October 3, 1990, after decades of division.Germany's scenic beauty includes Alpine mountain regions, the famous Rhine and Danube rivers, and the Black Forest. Acid rain, from sulfur dioxide emissions, now threatens Germany's old-growth forests.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Visit the southernmost country in Africa, and one of the most scenic places on Earth. Discover a nation of over 47 million people, with eleven official languages. Meet Nelson Mandela, the father of modern South Africa, an inspirational symbol of freedom worldwide, and winner of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. Learn of South Africa’s long and torturous struggle against apartheid. Discover how its rich plant biodiversity and varied landscape distinguishes South Africa as one of the world’s rare "Megadiverse" countries.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

National Geographic welcomes you to Australia, the only country that's also a continent: • Australia's landscape varies from endless sun-baked horizons to dense tropical rainforest to chilly southern beaches. • The Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional monarchy and has a parliamentary system of government. • Australia's population has quadrupled since WWI, with most Australians descended from immigrants, the majority from Great Britain and Ireland. • The indigenous population is also increasing, and perceived racial inequality is an ongoing political problem. • With a robust internationally competitive economy, long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Discover Vietnam, the easternmost nation on the Indochina Peninsula. Take note of Vietnam’s economy, which in 2006 boasted the fastest growth rate in Southeast Asia. Learn about the legacy of the Vietnam War; and why America deployed large numbers of troops in South Vietnam between 1954 and 1973. Feel the heat of Vietnam’s tropical monsoon climate, with humidity averaging 84% throughout the year.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Take a look at one of America's neighbors, an island of rich cultures from several sources: Spanish colonialism, African slavery, and proximity to the US. A large number of Cuban exiles reside in the US, with a high concentration of expatriate Cuban communities in the state of Florida. Christopher Columbus sighted the island on his first voyage and claimed it for Spain. The Republic of Cuba gained independence in 1902. Fidel Castro gained power in 1959, declaring it a socialist republic in 1961.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

All American students need to know about the land known historically as Mesopotamia, or the "Cradle of Civilization."Mesopotamia's Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian civilizations produced much of the world's earliest writing, science, mathematics, legal systems and philosophy. The Republic of Iraq was established in 1919 and granted independence in 1932. Iraq's complex history took a new turn with the US-led invasion in 2003. The country's oil provides about 95% of its foreign exchange earnings.

All American students need to know about the land known historically as Mesopotamia, or the "Cradle of Civilization." Mesopotamia's Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian civilizations produced much of the world's earliest writing, science, mathematics, legal systems and philosophy. The Republic of Iraq was established in 1919 and granted independence in 1932. Iraq's complex history took a new turn with the US-led invasion in 2003. The country's oil provides about 95% of its foreign exchange earnings.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Learn more about Germany, whose post-war recovery resulted in reunification. In the year after the opening of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, Western political and economic systems were introduced in the East, and two radically different societies began to merge.Germany was reunited on October 3, 1990, after decades of division.Germany's scenic beauty includes Alpine mountain regions, the famous Rhine and Danube rivers, and the Black Forest. Acid rain, from sulfur dioxide emissions, now threatens Germany's old-growth forests.