Caspian Sea | * a landlocked sea between Asia and Europe (European Russia) * world's largest inland body of water, with a surface area of 371,000 km² (143,000 sq. mi.) | * Oil and natural gas production platforms are replete along the edges of the sea. In addition, large quantities of sturgeon live in its waters, and the caviar produced from their eggs is a valuable commodity. Sturgeon is the common name used for some 26 species of fish in the family Acipenseridae; Several species of sturgeons are harvested for their roe, which is made into caviar — a luxury food which makes some sturgeons pound for pound the most valuable of all harvested fish * The Caspian Sea area is rich in minerals and natural resources. Oil fields were recovered there recently along with natural gas supplies. | Huang Ho (Yellow River) | * Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai province of western China * | * often called the cradle of Chinese civilization * named for the color of the silts that are carried downstream in its flow.One of the most creative uses of the river occurred during World War II. Chinese troops under Chiang Kai-Shek broke the levees on the Huang He in order to flood a valley and stop the advance of invading Japanese troops. The resulting flood was massive, and the death toll of the invaders topped 900,000. * | Fertile Crescent | * The "fertile crescent" refers to an ancient area of fertile soil and important rivers stretching in an arc from the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates. It covers Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. * Geologically, this corresponds with where Iranian, African, and Arabian tectonic plates meet. | * the region is often called the cradle of civilization; it saw the development of many of the earliest human civilizations. Some of its technological inventions (but not necessarily first or uniquely) are writing, glass, and the wheel. The earliest known western civilizations manifestly arose and flourished using the water supplies and agricultural resources available in the Fertile Crescent. * | Banawe Rice Terraces | * Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao Province, Philippines. | * 2000-taong gulang na mga hagdanang-taniman na nililok sa mga bulubundukin ng Ifugao sa Pilipinas ng mga ninuno ng mga katutubong mamamayanang Batad * tinatawag ito ng mga Pilipino bilang "Ikawalong Kahangahangang Pook sa Mundo * one of the Unesco World Heritage’s sites listed in 1995 * used by several Benguet local residents for planting crops (usually rice). * Banaue Rice Terraces are considered as one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the country * | Khyber Pass | * a mountain pass connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan, cutting through the northeastern part of the Spin Ghar mountains. * Afghanistan/Pakistan | * is one of the oldest known passes in the world. Throughout history it has been an important trade route between Central Asia and South Asia and a strategic military location * Being the major passageway for two countries namely Pakistan and Afghanistan | Mount Everest | | Solukhumbu District, Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal | * | * Mount Everest is the Earth's highest mountain, with a peak at 8,848 metres above sea level Mount Everest is also home to a very minute black jumping spider. These spiders hide in crevices and feed on frozen insects. Their food depends largely upon what is blown by the wind into the specific area.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/interesting-facts-about-mount-everest.html * | Borneo Rainforest | * Borneo | * It is the centre of evolution and radiation of many endemic species of plants and animals. * he Borneo rainforest is one of the only remaining natural habitats for the endangered Bornean orangutan * It is an important refuge for many endemic forest species, including the Asian elephant, the Sumatran rhinoceros, the Bornean clouded leopard, the Hose's civet and the dayak fruit bat. * | Lake Baikal | * Situated in south-east Siberia(timog Silangan) | * Lake Baikal is the most voluminous (malaking malaki) freshwater lake in the world * the deepest.[6] It is also among the clearest[7] of all lakes, and thought to be the world's oldest lake * as declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 * contains 20% of the world's total unfrozen freshwater reserve |