JAPAN. Country Profile: Japan Capital: Tokyo (largest urbanized area with 36 million) Area: 377,915 sq. kms; 62 nd largest in the world Population:

JAPAN

Country Profile: Japan Capital: Tokyo (largest urbanized area with 36 million)

Area: 377,915 sq. kms; 62nd largest in the world

Population: 127,103,388 (July 2014 estimate); 11th

largest in the world

Major cities: Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe,

Kyoto, Fukuoka-shi, Kawasaki, Saitama

Major rivers:

• Shinano (longest)

• Tone (largest watershed)

• Mogami, Fuji, Kuma (most rapid rivers)

Highest Point: Fujiyama (3,776 mts)

Lowest Point: Hachirogata (-4 mts)

Country Profile: Japan Currency: Yen

Ethnicity: Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, others 0.6%

Religion: Shintoism, Buddhism, Christianity

Major Languages: Japanese (99%)

• Ryukyuan languages (Amami, Kunigami, Okinawan, Miyako, Yaeyama,

Yonaguni), also part of the Japonic language family, are spoken in the

Ryukyu Islands chain

Land Boundaries: none

Coastline: 29,751 Kms.

Climate: varies from tropical in south to temperate in the north

Terrain: Mostly rugged mountains

The islands of Japan are located on the Ring of Fire, and as a result suffer

from frequent, violent earthquakes and some serious volcanic activity.

There are a total of 108 active volcanoes within Japan's archipelago, most of

which provoke devastating earthquakes and tsunamis several times every

century.

Country Profile: Japan The territory of Japan is about 378,000 Sq. Kms.

• Countries much larger than Japan (times)• Russia ： 45.2 Canada: 26.4 The USA ： 25.5• China ： 25.4 Brazil ： 22.5 Australia ： 20.5

• Countries somewhat larger than Japan (times)• Thailand ： 1.4 France: 1.5 Sweden ： 1.2• Spain ： 1.3 Iraq ： 1.2 Morocco: 1.2 Norway: 1.0

• Countries somewhat smaller than Japan (times)• Vietnam: 0.9 Malaysia: 0.9 Italy: 0.8• Germany: 0.9 Finland: 0.9 Poland: 0.9• New Zealand: 0.7 United Kingdom: 0.6

National Symbols:

• Animal: Raccoon Dog

• Bird: Green Pheasant, Red-crowned Crane

• Fruit: Lychee

• Tree: Cherry blossom

Country Profile: Japan Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean

and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Formally known as Nippon-koku, Nihon-koku (the state of Japan)• Wa or Wakoku (before Nihon became official)

Also referred to as ‘Land of the Rising Sun’

Japan is a stratovolcanic archipelago of 6,852 islands

Japan is a Shimaguni (island country)

The four largest islands (Home Islands) - Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku (97% of Japan's land area)

Honshū's Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the de facto capital of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents

Superimposing on a map of the east coast of North America at the same latitudes, Japan would stretch from northern Maine, or Montreal, to almost the Gulf of Mexico• Sapporo City in north Japan is situated at about the same latitude as Boston• Okinawa, in southern Japan is situated at about the same latitude as Miami

Country Profile: Japan Honshū's Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the de facto capital of

Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents

Consists of 47 prefectures, each overseen by an elected governor

About 73% of Japan is forested, mountainous, and unsuitable for agricultural, industrial, or residential use

Natural resources: small deposits of coal, oil, iron, and minerals. Major fishing industry.

Major Exports: motor vehicles; semiconductors; iron and steel products; auto parts; plastic materials; power generating machinery

Major Imports: petroleum; liquid natural gas; clothing; semiconductors; coal; audio and visual apparatus (2011 est)

Seikan Tunnel linking Honshu to Hokkaido is the world’s deepest operational railroad tunnel at 54 kms. (33 miles), with 23.3 km (14.5 mi) long portion under the seabed. (longest until 2010)• Line 3 of the Guangzhou Metro’s central tunnel has been longer since 2010• Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland will be longer when it opens in 2016

INDONESIA

Sang Saka Merah-Putih, Bendera Merah-

Putih or Merah-Putih

Country Profile: Indonesia



Tana Toraja (south Sulawesi) traditional ancestral houses (tongkonan)

Raja Ampat - Wayag, the cluster of volcanic rock sticking out of the ocean

Bali

Derawan Islands inEast Kalimantan IslandsNational Monument


Stupas at Borobudur

Mount Semeru (in background) and Mount Bromo (in foreground)

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) on the island of Bali depict leaves, waves, animals, and demons

Country Profile: Indonesia Capital: Jakarta

Area: 1,904,569 sq. kms; 15th largest in the world

Population: 253,609,643 (July 2014 estimate); 5th largest in the world

Major cities: Surabaja, Bandung, Bekasi, Medan, Tangerang, Depok, Semarang, Palembang

Major rivers:

• Kapuas (1,143 kms / 710 miles) in Kalimantan is longest river flowing from north-central mountains to the South China Sea.

• Other rivers include Barito, Mahakham, Rajang (Kalimantan); Batanghari, Musi, Indragiri, Kampar (Sumatra); Solo, Tarum,

Brantas (Java); Mamberamo, Digul (Papua)

Deserts: None

Highest Point: Puncak Jaya (5,030 mts)

Lowest Point: Indian Ocean (0 mts)

Country Profile: Indonesia Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

Ethnicity: Javanese (45%), Sundanese (14%), Madurese (7.5%), coastal Malays (7.5%), others (26%)

Religion: Muslim (88%), Protestant (5%), Catholic (3%), Hindu (2%), Buddhism (1%)

Major Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Malay

Land Boundaries: Timor-Leste (253 km), Malaysia (1,881 km), Papua New Guinea (824 km)

Coastline: 54,716 Kms on the Indian Ocean, Strait of Malacca, South China Sea, Java Sea, Sulawesi Sea, Maluku Sea, Pacific

Ocean, Arafura Sea, Timor Sea

Climate: Lying along the equator, Indonesia's climate tends to be relatively even year-round. Tropical; hot, humid; more

moderate in highlands

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

Natural Resources: Petroleum and natural gas, coal, timber. Other significant minerals are bauxite, copper, gold, iron,

manganese, nickel, sulfur, silver, tin


Greek indos—for India—and nesos—for island

Citizens of Indonesia often refer to their country as "Tanah Air Kitah," "Our Land and Water," which illustrates importance

of seas surrounding the archipelago

Location: an archipelagic island country in Southeast Asia, lying between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean (Largest

Extends 5,120 kms. (3,181 mi) from east to west and 1,760 kms. (1,094 mi) from north to south

It encompasses an estimated 17,508 islands, only 6,000 of which are inhabited.

Comprise five main islands: Sumatra, Java, Borneo (Kalimantan), Sulawesi (Celebes), and New Guinea (Irian Jaya)

Two major archipelagos - Nusa Tenggara and the Maluku Islands; and sixty smaller archipelagoes.

Country Profile: Indonesia Four of the islands are shared with other nations:

• Borneo is shared with Malaysia

• Brunei, Sebatik, located eastern coast of Kalimantan, shared with Malaysia

• Timor is shared with East Timor

• newly divided provinces of Papua and West Papua share the island of New Guinea with Papua New Guinea

South of the island of Java is the lowest point in the Indian Ocean, the Java Trench, some 7,300 meters (24,000 feet) deep.

Between Timor and Australia is the Timor Trough, which is approximately 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) deep

Geologically, Indonesia is located on intersections between two rings of fire and two plateau continent. Indonesia’s

geological location causes earthquakes and volcano eruptions often happened. However, the soil is fertile with rich volcanic

minerals thus agriculture has been the main source of living for the most people in rural.

Country Profile: Indonesia Major Industries: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, automotive, electrical appliances, apparel, footwear, mining, cement,

medical instruments and appliances, handicrafts, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, processed food, jewelry, and tourism

Major Exports: oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber

Major Imports: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

THAILAND

Country Profile: Thailand

National Research Council divides Thailand into six geographical regions:

• the North Region• the Northeast Region• the Central Region• the East Region• the West Region • the South Region


Ayuthaya was founded in 1350 AD by King U Thong as the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai

Grand Palace started in 1782 when the capital of Siam was moved from Thonburi to Bangkok

Chiang Mai, one of the top Thailand attractions, is a famous Night Bazaar that sprawls along several city blocks along footpaths, inside buildings and temple grounds


Capital: Bangkok

Area: 513,120 sq. kms; 51st largest in the world

Population: 67,741,401; 21st largest in the world

Major cities: Nonthaburi, Pak Kret, Hat Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima

Major rivers: Two principal river systems:

• Chao Phraya (begins at the confluence of the Ping and Nan river at Nakhon Sawan and drains into Gulf of Thailand)

• Mekong (only river in Thailand that drains into South China Sea)

Highest Point: Doi Inthanon (2,576 mts)

Lowest Point: Gulf of Thailand (0 mts)


Currency: Thai Baht

Ethnicity: Thai 95.9%, Burmese 2%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2010 est.)

Religion: Buddhist (official) 93.6%, Muslim 4.9%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2010 est.)

Major Languages: Thai (Official) spoken by 95.9%, Burmese (1.3%). English is secondary language

Land Boundaries: Burma (1,800 km), Cambodia (803 km), Laos (1,754 km), Malaysia (506 km)

Coastline: 3,219 Kms on the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand

Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon

(November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Natural Resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land

Country Profile: Thailand Major geographic regions:

• Northern mountainous region contains numerous ruins and temples, the ancient city of Chieng Mai, and Thailand's highest peak, Doi Inthanon; the

mountains extend along the Myanmar border down through the Kra Isthmus and the Malay Peninsula

• North-east occupies the semi-arid Korat plateau, which in some parts is extremely flat, and a few low but rugged and rocky hills, the Phu Phan Mountains

• Central Thailand is a natural self contaiined basin, which consists of the fertile plains surrounding Chao Phraya River, is “Rice bowl of Asia”

• Eastern Thailand lies between the Sankamphaeng Range, which forms the border of the Northeastern plateau to the north and the Gulf of Thailand to the

south. The western end of the Cardamom Mountains, known in Thailand as Thio Khao Banthat, extends into Eastern Thailand, characterized by short

mountain ranges alternating with small basins of short rivers which drain into the Gulf of Thailand. Fruit is a major component of agriculture in the area, and

tourism plays a strong part in the economy. The region's coastal location has helped promote the Eastern Seaboard industrial development, a major factor in

the economy of the region

• Western Thailand: Thailand's long mountainous border with Myanmar continues south from the North into Western Thailand with the Tenasserim Hills,

known in Thailand as Thio Khao Tanaosi, characterized by high mountains and steep river valleys, hosts much of Thailand's less-disturbed forest areas. Water

and minerals are also important natural resources; the region is home to many of the country's major dams, and mining is an important industry in the area..

• Southern region of Thailand, which stretches for hundreds of miles along the Malay peninsula, abounds with stunning beaches and scores of tropical islands,

including Phuket Island


Controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

Thailand's congested capital city of Bangkok is located along the banks of the Chao Phraya, near the river's outlet into the

Bight of Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand

The geography of Thailand features many natural borders with neighboring countries: a mountainous border with Myanmar

(Burma) to the north and west; a long stretch of the Mekong River separating Thailand from Laos to the north and east; and

the Mekong River and the Dongrak Mountains delineating border of Cambodia to the east.

Other rivers in Thailand include Bang Pakong, Phetchaburi, Mae Klong, Pran Buri, Khlong Kui, Tapi and Phum Duang, Pattani


Agricultural Products: rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans

Major Industries:

• tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry

and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts;

• world's second-largest tungsten producer

• third-largest tin producer

Major Exports: electronics, computer parts, automobiles and parts, electrical appliances, machinery and equipment, textiles and

footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber

Major Imports: capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels

RUSSIA

Country Profile: Russia



Bolshoi Theatre

The Valley of Geysers, located in the Kamchatka Peninsula, is also the world’s only geyser field and the second largest concentration of geysers

Country Profile: Russia Capital: Moscow

Area: 17,098,242 sq. kms; the largest in the world

Population: 142,470,272 (10st largest in the world)

Major cities: Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Kazan, Omsk, Chelyabinsk,

Rostov-on-Don, Ufa, Volgograd

Major rivers:

• In Asia, important rivers are the Ob, Irtysh, Yenisey, Angara, Lena, Amur, Yana, Indigirka, Kolyma

Highest Point: Gora Elbrus (5,633 mts) – also highest in Europe

Lowest Point: Caspian Sea (-28 mts)

Country Profile: Russia Ethnicity: Russian 77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chuvash 1%, Chechen 1%, other 10.2%, unspecified 3.9% (more than

190 ethnic groups – 2010 census)

Religion: Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large

populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy of over seven decades of Soviet rule)

Major Languages: Russian (official) 96.3%, Dolgang 5.3%, German 1.5%, Chechen 1%, Tatar 3%, other 10.3%

Land Boundaries: Azerbaijan 338 km, Belarus 1,312 km, China (southeast) 4,133 km, China (south) 46 km, Estonia 324 km, Finland 1,309

km, Georgia 894 km, Kazakhstan 7,644 km, North Korea 18 km, Latvia 332 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 261 km, Mongolia 3,452 km,

Norway 191 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 209 km, Ukraine 1,944 km

Coastline: 37,653 Kms

Climate: ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in

polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; warm summers in steppes to cool along Arctic coast

Terrain: broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern

border regions

Natural Resources: major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, reserves of rare earth elements, timber

Country Profile: Russia Geographers traditionally divide the vast territory of Russia into five natural zones:

• Tundra zone• Taiga or Forest zone• Steppe, or Plains zone• Arid zone• Mountain zone.

Most of Russia consists of two plains (the East European Plain and the West Siberian Plain), two lowlands (the North Siberian and the Kolyma, in far northeastern Siberia), two plateaus (the Central Siberian Plateau and the Lena Plateau to its east), and a series of mountainous areas mainly concentrated in the extreme northeast or extending intermittently along the southern border.

Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, is estimated to hold one fifth of the world's fresh water

Natural Hazards: permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European Russia

Significant volcanic activity on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands; the peninsula alone is home to some 29 historically active volcanoes, with dozens more in the Kuril Islands

Country Profile: Russia There are about 120 ethnic groups in Russia who speak more than a hundred languages.

Roughly 80 percent of Russians trace their ancestry to the Slavs who settled in the country 1,500 years ago. Other major groups include Tatars, who came with the Mongol invaders, and Ukrainians

National Symbols:

• Animal - Russian bear

• Symbol - Double-headed Eagle

• Tree - Birch tree

• Instrument - Balalaika

• Coat of arms - A golden double-headed eagle on a red shield

• Other symbols - Fur hats, Valenki (felt boots), Hammer and sickle (USSR), Mother Russia, Red star (USSR)

Country Profile: Russia Major Industries: complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all

forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; defense industries (including radar, missile production, advanced electronic components), shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts

Major Exports: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, metals, wood and wood products, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures

Major Imports: machinery, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, plastic, semi-finished metal products, meat, fruits and nuts, optical and medical instruments, iron, steel

IRAN

Country Profile: Iran

Country Profile: Iran

Country Profile: Iran Capital: Tehran

Area: 1,648,195 sq. kms; 18th largest in the world

Population: 80,840,713 (July 2014 estimate); 19th largest in the world

Major cities: Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Karaj, Tabriz, Shiraz, Qom, Ahvaz, Kahriz, Kermanshah

Major rivers and water bodies:• Longest and only navigable river, the Karun, flows through the city of Ahvaz in the southwest. • Karkheh (755 kms. /469 miles); Dez (515 kms. /320 miles); Hendijan (488 kms. /303 miles),

Jarahi (438 kms. /272 miles); Sefidrood (765 kms. /475 miles), Atrek (535 kms. /332 miles); Mand (685 kms. /426 miles) in the southwest; and Zayande (405 kms. /251 miles), which flows through the city of Isfahan

• Three rivers form portions of Iran's international boundaries. Aras River lies along the border with Armenia and Azerbaijan Atrek River borders Turkmenistan Shatt al Arab is part of the border with Iraq.

• Iran also shares the Caspian Sea with four other countries. • Largest lake is Lake Urmia in the northwest

Deserts: More than 300,000 sq. kms. (115,831 sq. miles). Lūt Desert covers some 80,000 sq. kms. (30,888 sq. miles). It includes the Dasht-e-Kavīr and Dasht-e-Lūt, and the adjacent Namakzār-e Shahdād. It is one of the hottest places on Earth with temperatures reaching as high as 57°C (135°F). The similar Jaz Mūrīān Desert lies to the south of the Lūt Desert.

Aerial view of Mount Damavand

Country Profile: Iran Highest Point: Kuh-e Damavand (5,610 mts)

Lowest Point: Caspian Sea (-28 mts)

Currency: Iranian Rials

Ethnicity: Persian 61%, Azeri 16%, Kurd 10%, Lur 6%, Baloch 2%, Arab 2%, Turkmen and Turkic 2%

Religion: Muslim (official) 99.4% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian) 0.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2011 est.)

Major Languages: Persian (official) 53%, Azeri Turkic and Turkic dialects 18%, Kurdish 10%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 7%, Luri 6%, Balochi 2%, Arabic

2%, other 2%

Land Boundaries: Total land borders (5,440 km/ (3,380 mi)

• Afghanistan 936 kms. (582 miles); Armenia 35 kms. (22 miles); Azerbaijan proper 432 kms. (268 miles); Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 kms.

(111 miles); Iraq 1,458 kms. (906 miles); Pakistan 909 kms. (565 miles); Turkey 499 kms. (310 miles); Turkmenistan 992 kms. (616 miles)

Coastline: 2,440 Kms on the Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz

Climate: In general, Iran has an arid climate in which most of the relatively scant annual precipitation falls from October through April. In the

northwest, winters are cold with heavy snowfall and subfreezing temperatures during December and January. Spring and fall are relatively mild,

while summers are dry and hot. In the south, winters are mild and the summers are very hot, having average daily temperatures in July exceeding 38

°C (100.4 °F)

Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Country Profile: Iran Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead,

manganese, zinc, sulfur

Major Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles, cement

and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and

vegetable oil production), ferrous and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments

Major Exports: petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts,

carpets

Major Imports: industrial supplies, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer

goods, technical services

There are eighteen sites in Iran that have been designated as Wetlands of

International Importance under the Ramsar International Convention on Wetlands.

Caspian wetlands sites include the Anzali Mordab marsh complex (a bird migration

area), Bandar-e Torkeman Lagoon, and other lagoons

The desert city, famous for its windcatchers [ventilators)

Documents

JAPAN. Country Profile: Japan Capital: Tokyo (largest urbanized area with 36 million) Area: 377,915 sq. kms; 62 nd largest in the world Population: