This encyclopaedia maps out every corner of the world - from the icy wastes of Antarctica to the deserts and plains of the African continent, from the highest mountain ranges of the Americas to the snowfield an jungles of Asia, from the remote steppes and rugged terrain of Russia and Mongolia to the ancient woodlands and younger mountains of Europe. The first section, The Physical Earth, describes the formation and changing face of the earth over millions of years. It is an introduction to climate and weather, and discusses human impact and global warming as well as how map-making and satellite observations can inform and affect our interaction with the environment. In the main section of the book, each country is illustrated by a three-dimensional computer-generated map, using satellite data. These maps show the physical features and vegetation, highest mountains, country borders, cities, main towns and coastlines. The maps are accompanied by locators so that the reader will always know where they are in the world. The encyclopaedia explains every country in terms of its physical geography, its peoples, how its landscape was formed, its political makeup, its industries and its place in the modern world. Basic information about a country - its flag, are population, major cities, style of government, highest point, official language, main religions, currency and main exports - is given in fact panels at the beginning of each entry. The book is rounded off by an gazetteer, a list of relevant websites and a comprehensive index.