Major world geographical features

Oceans and Seas

Oceans are the largest bodies of water on earth with five major oceans including the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic Oceans.
Seas are generally smaller and partially enclosed by land such as the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, and Caribbean Sea.
Oceans and seas provide important travel routes and attractions for cruises, beach resorts, and water sport destinations.

Familiarize yourself with the highest peaks in each continent including Mount Everest in Asia, Aconcagua in South America, Denali in North America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Mount Elbrus in Europe.
Identify key mountain ranges like the Andes, Alps, Rocky Mountains, Himalayas, and their geographical locations.
Mountains attract tourists for activities like trekking, winter sports and offer breathtaking vistas and diverse ecosystems.

Recognize significant rivers like the Nile, Amazon, Yangtze, and Mississippi, including their location, length and cultural significance.
Understand the importance of lakes in tourism like the Great Lakes in North America, Lake Victoria in Africa, and Lake Baikal in Russia.
Famous river valleys, such as the Rhine and Moselle, are key to understanding unique landscapes and related tourism opportunities.

Identify the world’s largest deserts including the Sahara in Africa, the Arabian Desert in the Middle East, and the Gobi Desert in Asia.
Deserts often offer unique tourist experiences such as camel rides, dune bashing and stargazing opportunities.
Important to understand the potential challenges of desert tourism such as high temperatures and scarce water resources.

Understanding the earth’s tectonic plates including the Pacific, North American, South American, African, Eurasian, Australian, and Antarctic plates is key.
Awareness of regions prone to earthquakes and volcanoes due to tectonic movements, such as the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Knowledge of how natural disasters can impact destinations and tourism operations.

Varied vegetation zones including rainforests (Amazon), savannahs (Serengeti), tundra (Siberia), and forests (Black Forest).
Recognize global biodiversity hotspots like the Galapagos Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Madagascar forests.
Understand how these unique ecological systems contribute to ecotourism opportunities and challenges.