Unit 2 · Neighbors & Borders
Nature's walls between civilizations
The Himalayas separate India from China — the world's two most populous countries. Mount Everest (8,849m) sits on the Nepal-China border. This mountain wall is so massive that it creates India's entire monsoon climate by blocking cold air from the north. Two nuclear powers, divided by the tallest mountains on Earth.
The longest mountain range on Earth (7,000 km), running from Venezuela to Chile. The Andes split the continent's climate: wet Amazon jungle on the east side, dry Atacama desert on the west. The Inca Empire built Machu Picchu at 2,430m. La Paz, Bolivia is the world's highest capital at 3,640m.
The Alps separate Northern Europe from Southern Europe — Germanic culture from Mediterranean culture. Switzerland sits right in the middle, which is partly why it stayed neutral in both World Wars (attacking through mountains is a nightmare). The Alps get 120 million tourists per year.
A nearly perfect natural border between France and Spain for 430 km. Between them sits tiny Andorra — a microstate that survived for 700+ years because neither side wanted to fight through mountains to claim it. The Pyrenees are why French and Spanish cultures are so different despite being neighbors.
Between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains mark where Europe 'ends' and Asia 'begins.' Mount Elbrus (5,642m) is Europe's highest peak. Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan sit south of these mountains — technically in Asia, culturally influenced by both continents.
Mountains isolate communities, creating unique languages, cuisines, and traditions. Papua New Guinea has 800+ languages because mountains kept tribes separate. The Basque people in the Pyrenees speak a language unrelated to any other on Earth. Mountains don't just divide countries — they create cultures.
Answer all ten, then see your stars. You can retake it as many times as you like.
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