Create Your Own Country Project

Advanced World Geography Project #1 Due: October 18, 2011 (No Exceptions!) Introduction & Directions: This project will give you the opportunity to apply what weve learned in class and to show your creativity in coming up with your own country. It will test your geographical, map, and critical thinking skills, as well as give you an opportunity to do what we would all like to do: rule your own country. The sky is the limit with this project. Want your country to be underground? Go for it. Want your people to only speak in Justin Bieber lyrics? Fine. There are just two rules. First, your decisions have to be logical. For example, dont claim your country is a tropical paradise near the equator, but then have your average temperature be below freezing in the winter. That just doesnt make sense. Second, you must follow the requirements listed below. You do not have to answer every single question. They are just there to guide you along with your project. You should, however, include all of the map elements outlined below. Name of your country Location (Latitude & longitude coordinates, as well as relative location) Physical geography (What kind of plants, bodies of water, animals, and land features does your country have? Does it have mountains? Is it an island? Is it landlocked or does it touch water on three sides?) Weather & Climate (What kind of weather does your country normally have? Is it cold and snowy? Hot
and dry? What is the average temperature of your country in the summer and winter? Natural Resources (Do the people in your country have abundant energy resources, or do they have

to import resources from other areas? Does your country mine for gold, diamonds, or other resources?) Population & People (How many people live in your country? What are the people like? What kind of jobs do they have? How do they travel and move around? Can they read? Is your population made up of mostly old people, or are they fairly young? Is your population growing? Why or why not? Are there different types of races and ethnicities represented in your country? What kinds of food do the people in your country eat? What holidays do they celebrate? What languages do they speak? Do they practice any religion? How do people communicate and exchange information and ideas?) Political System (What kind of political system does your country have? Is it a monarchy, democracy, or dictatorship? Is it governed by one big central government, or is it run by many smaller governments at the local level?) Map-You should create a map of your country that contains the following elements: Title, legend, scale, compass rose, major physical features, major cities or towns, capital city, latitude & longitude grid Show any borders with other countries. Colorful, creative, and neat. Fill an entire 8.5x11 size piece of paper.