 Where In The World?
Where In The World Is Japan?
Its time to get out your globe! You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ships captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located. Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians) are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. This mapping system is written in degrees and uses the symbol . Get ready to travel the world!
 On your globe, find longitude of 138E and latitude of 36N, and you'll find Japan. This country is located in Eastern Asia and is a little smaller than our state of California. Japan is made up of a chain of islands between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. The islands are bordered by many different bodies of water, including the Sea of Japan, La Perouse Strait, the Sea of Okhotsk, the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea. The islands are to the east of the Korean Peninsula. This string of islands stretches for approximately 1,500 miles through the western Pacific Ocean. The countrys four main islands are, from north to south, Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Honshu is the largest of the four islands. There are many smaller islands that are part of Japan.
The capital of Japan is Tokyo, one of the world's most populus cities. The climate of Japan varies. It is tropical in the south and cool in the north. The land is very rugged and mountainous. There are many volcanoes in Japan, including Mount Fuji which is Japans highest mountain.
The population of Japan is over 127 million. Education is very important to the people of Japan. As a result, Japan is one of the world's most literate countries. It is also one of the worlds top manufacturing countries and a global financial leader. The majority of people in Japan observe Shinto and Buddhist religions.
Source: The World Factbook prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency; Encyclopdia Britannica, "Japan," http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9106451.
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