Ecotourism (nature-based tourism industry) is very large in Africa because of all the wildlife parks that are available there. Here in Utah, we also have ecotourism with all of the beautiful outdoor parks you can visit. Utah is home to 5 National Parks as well as many State Parks. I am an avid hiker and have visited all 5 of Utah’s National Parks and many of the State Parks.
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| Cassidy Arch is located in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah |
Insolation is exposure to the sun’s rays. The part of Africa closest to the equator gets the most insolation. Southern Utah is very dry and hot, especially during the summer. The insolation is very high there at that time as well, making it feel like you could be in the African desert, the Sahara.
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| Canyonlands National Park, Utah |
Southwest Asia + North Africa
We are told about the origins of urban living in this chapter and the development of cities. The first cities are believed to have been found in Mesopotamia after the first agricultural revolution.
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| Purchase my first home |
Nonrenewable resources like oil were discovered in this area in 1938, and many wars have been fought to have the power over these resources. OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) was established in 1965 to help regulate it all. 50% of the world’s crude oil comes from this region, with Saudi Arabia being the lead exporter.
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| My new car (which needs oil) |
South Asia
Outsourcing began to grow in the 1990s when big companies outsourced labor to this region, where workers would do the same thing for a cheaper wage. The job I held as a graphic designer was outsourced to India, and I lost my job here in the United States because of this.
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| I had just had surgery on my foot and was at home when this happened. |
The Provo River starts up high in the mountains and runs all the way down to Utah Lake. The river is fast in certain parts and slows in others. Over time, the river has eaten away the soil in some parts and has even had roads collapse and fall into the river. When the speed of the river increases, it erodes the landscape around it.
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| Kayaking on Utah Lake |
Southeast Asia
The first world religions that spread in Southeast Asia are Hinduism and Buddhism. Many sacred temples and sites are found all over this region.
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| Ice bath after meditation and breathwork |
Tourism is short-term travel away from home with the intent to relax. Southeast Asia is home to some of the best tourist destinations, with its beautiful island destinations. Over 65 million international visitors travel to Southeast Asia each year.
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| Cruise in 2020 (right before COVID) |
East Asia
Migration in East Asia is a very interesting topic to study. China has a system called the Hokou system that tracks where every citizen lives. The government keeps track of everyone with this system and knows if they are in an urban area or an agricultural area. If you live in your Hokou, you get government support; if you move away from the assigned area, you are on your own.
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| Becoming an American Citizen (2018) |
More than half the world lives in Asia. Because of this, East Asia had a one-child policy for a long time. This created a massive gender imbalance as boys were preferred over girls, as they could work and take care of their parents as they aged. Because of the policy in 1979, 400 million fewer children were born while this policy was in place.
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| I have 2 kids (both girls) |
Europe
Born and raised in the Netherlands, I saw the polders described in the book firsthand. Many windmills dotted the landscape that I saw daily as I rode my bike to school and back. Some of the windmills help pump the water that would otherwise overtake the country, as it is under sea level.
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| Me in big clogs when I was little, playing tourist. |
Growing up in Europe, we traveled to a different country each summer for a few months' vacation. My favorite was Italy, and I was able to visit Venice. The book talks about Venice and how it is slowly sinking. The tides bring in high water, which they call acqua alta. The entire city is built on water, and you can make your way around the city by either walking or taking a boat.
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| Feeding the pigeons in Saint Mark's Square |
South America, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean
I went on a cruise and was able to visit some ruins left behind by civilizations in Mesoamerica. These particular ruins were what was left from villages that had been created by the Mayan people who inhabited this region long ago.
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| Tulum, Mexico |
The ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone) brings lots of rain to the Amazon, which is in this region. The Amazon gets year-round rainfall, which creates this tropical rainforest. The rainfall creates lots of beautiful vegetation that supplies many things we all use around the world.
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| Cave tubbing + floating down the river in Belize |
[Written for GEOG 130G class UVU Spring 2022]
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