ASIA (Part 1)

• Asia is the largest
continent both in
size and
population.
• There are over 50
countries in
Asia.
• People speak many
different languages,
religions and
beliefs.
Asia

• Covers about one-
third of the Earth’s
land surface.
• Lies in the Northern
Hemisphere
• Separated from
Europe by the Ural
Mountains lying to
the northwest
Asia

• Southwestern
borders
1.Caucasus
Mountains
2.Highlands of
Turkey
Asia

• South
1.Red Sea
2.Indian Ocean
Asia

• East
1. Pacific Ocean
Asia

• North
1. Arctic Region
Asia

• Highest point
above sea level
• which is more
than (29,035
feet) 5 miles
high and is the
tallest mountain
on earth.
Mount Everest

Dead Sea
• Lowest point
on Earth
• 400 meters
below sea level
• Bordering
Jordan to the
east and Israel

ASIAN PEOPLE
• Asia is a continent of many
different cultures. Each of them
are unique and special.
• There are hundreds of different
languages.
• Many wars have been fought
between countries in Asia
• Many famous religious, foods
and events have happened in
Asia.
• Over 4 billion people live in
Asia.

Some people live up
north by the Arctic
where it is very cold.
Some people live in the
tropics along the
Equator.
The country with the largest
population in the world is
China.

Every
country
has its
own flag.

A. Western Asia
ARMENIA
Capital: Yerevan
Area: 11, 484 sq mi
Population estimate (2012): 2,970,495
Government: Republic
Languages: Armenian (official), others
Money: Dram
Life Expectancy: 73
Literacy Rate: 100%

President
Serzh Sargsyan is the head of state,
supreme commander-in-chief and the
guarantor of independence and
territorial integrity of Armenia.

12 interesting facts about
Armenia
1. Chess is a compulsory subject in
schools
2. Armenia was the first country to
have adopted Christianity as its
state religion
3. Armenia is one of the only mono
ethnic countries in the world

4. The first church in the world was
built in Armenia
5. An estimated 1.5 million
Armenians were killed during the
Genocide
6. Armenia is one of the oldest wine
producing country in the world

7. Armenians bake their lavash
underground in a tonir
8. The entire country worships Mt
Ararat which is also the national
symbol of Armenia
9. The apricot is one of the symbols
of Armenia

10. Yerevan is also known as the
“pink city”
11. There’s a ‘stork village’ here in
Armenia!
12. There is no discrimination
between tourists and locals in
Armenia

A. Western Asia
AZERBAIJAN
Capital: Baku
Area: 33,400 sq mi
Languages: Azerbaijani, Lezgi, Russian,
Armenian, others
Money: Azerbaijani manat
Life Expectancy: 71
Literacy Rate: 100%

President
Ilham Aliyev as the head of state, and the
Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as
head of government.

10 facts about AZERBAIJAN
1. The former world chess champion Garry
Kasparov hails from Baku, the capital city
of Azerbaijan.
2. The highest point in Azerbaijan is
Bazarduzu Dagi, which is 4,485 m above
the sea level.
3. It is believed that prophet Zoroaster, the
founder of the Zoroastrism, was born in
Azerbaijan, which was the part of the
Persian Empire at that time.

4. Azerbaijan is also referred to as “the land
of fire” which may be due to the large
deposits of oil in the land that might have
ignited from time to time.
5. Prior to eighteenth century, Azerbaijan
was a Christian country and it was only later
that the inhabitants were converted into
Islam.

6. Capital city of Baku was once very
important commercial center on the Silk
Route, the trading passage way from
Europe to China.
7. In 1828, a treaty between Persia (Iran)
and Russia called the Treaty of
Turkmanchai, outlining the sharing of the
Azerbaijan territory between the two
countries.

8. Azerbaijani language has many dialects
but the major ones are divided into two
varieties—The North Azerbaijani and the
South Azerbaijani.
9. Some of the superstitions related to the
Azeri culture include, “Do not lend money or
bread at night”, “Leaving scissors with
opened blades brings misfortune and even
death”, and “If you meet a person with
empty buckets, you are bound for
misfortune.”

10. The people of Azerbaijan love to drink
tea. The drink is served in a traditional pear
shaped glass and also sipped through
lumps of sugar or jam that are held in the
mouth.

A. Western Asia
BAHRAIN
Capital: Manama
Area: 293 sq mi
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi,
Urdu
Money: Bahraini dinar
Life Expectancy: 78
Literacy Rate: 95%

King of Bahrain
King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa is the monarch
and head of state of Bahrain. Between 1783 and
1971, the Bahraini monarch held the title of Hakim,
and, from 1971 until 2002, the title of Emir. On 14
February 2002, the then-Emir of Bahrain,
Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, declared Bahrain a
kingdom and proclaimed himself the first king.

8 facts about BAHRAIN
1. The British School of Bahrain holds the
world record for the largest simultaneous
coin toss. As part of World Math's Day in
2010, 1,117 staff and students took part
in the toss which made it into the
Guinness Book of Records.
2. A new constitution was introduced in
2002 which provided for an elected
parliament and gave women the right to
vote.

4. In addition to freshwater wells, which
were once in abundance, there are places in
the sea north of Bahrain where fresh water
bubbles up in the middle of the salt water!
5. In Arabic, Bahrayn is the dual form of
bahr (sea), so al-Bahrayn means ‘the two
seas’.

6. Bahrain World Trade Centre is the first
skyscraper in the world to integrate wind
turbines into its design.
7. Bahrain’s flag used to be the largest flag
in the world, setting a Guinness world record
in 2004 at 169.5m long and 97.1m wide.

8. 18 species of mammals are found on the
islands with animals such as gazelles,
desert rabbits and hedgehogs common in
the wild. There are also 25 recorded species
of amphibians and reptiles as well as 21
species of butterflies and 307 species of
flora.

A. Western Asia
CYPRUS
Capital: Nicosia
Area: 3,572 sq mi
Languages: Greek and Turkish (both
official), English
Money: Euro (formely Cyprus pound)
Life Expectancy: 78
Literacy Rate: 98%

President
Nicos Anastasiades is the head of state and
the head of government of the
Republic of Cyprus. The office was created
in 1960, after Cyprus gained its
independence from the United Kingdom.

10 unique things about Cyprus
1. It's the original island of love
2. A whole town has World Heritage
Status
3. It has the world's oldest wine label

4. Carnival is a Dionysian blend
5. The ancient tombs are rock solid
6. Its national symbol is a (very shy)
sheep

7. Cyprus haloumi is the real deal
8. The Roman mosaics are among the
world's best
9. The diving is world class
10. Hankies have manifold powers

A. Western Asia
GEORGIA
Capital: Tbilisi
Area: 26,911 sq mi
Languages: Georgian (official), Russian,
Armenian, Azeri
Money: Lari
Life Expectancy: 77
Literacy Rate: 100%

President
Giorgi Margvelashvili is the head of state,
supreme commander-in-chief, and holder of
the highest office within the Government of
Georgia.

10 Facts about Georgia
1. Cradle of Wine
2. A Unique Alphabet
3. UNESCO Heritage sites
4. Europe’s highest settlement in
Georgia

5. First European Civilization
6. Flora and Fauna
7. Endless Tourism Possibilities
8. Summer sea and Winter Ski resorts

9. Mountains and Trekking
10. Rapid development

A. Western Asia
IRAQ
Capital: Baghdad
Area: 169,235 sq mi
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Languages: Arabic and Kurdish (official),
Turkmen, Assyrian
Money: Iraqi dinar
Life Expectancy: 71
Literacy Rate: 78%

President
Fuad Masum is the seventh and current
President of Iraq, in office since 2014. He is a
veteran Iraqi Kurdish politician[2][3]
and was elected
as President following the
2014 parliamentary election.[4]
Masum is the
second non-Arab president of Iraq, succeeding
Jalal Talabani, also Kurdish, and is a confidant of
Talabani.

10 facts about Iraq
1.Researchers claim that most Irish and
Britons can trace their roots to Iraq and
Syria.
2. Iraqis celebrate two New Year’s Days.
The first celebration is Muharram on the first
month of the Muslim calendar. Some Iraqis
also celebrate New Year’s Eve on
December 31 of the Gregorian calendar.

3. Traditionally, marriages in Iraq are
arranged, though more and more Iraqis are
choosing their own spouses, especially in
larger cities.
4. Traditionally in Iraq, more than half of all
brides and grooms marry their first or
second cousin.

5. According to the Bible, Abraham was
from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq. Isaac’s
wife, Rebekah was from Nahor, which is
also in Iraq. Additionally, according to
legend, Iraq is the site of the Biblical Garden
of Eden.
6. One of Iraq’s distinctive plants is licorice,
which has been used for thousands of years
for its health effects. Warriors in ancient
armies found that chewing it kept them from
getting thirsty.

7. For 5,000 years Iraqis have been keeping
bees. Honey is an important source of food
and income for many Iraq families.
8. In Iraq, as it is in many predominately
Muslim countries, it is offensive to use one’s
left hand while eating because the left hand
is considered to be unclean.

9. Archeologist Leonard Woolley asserts
that the fear of black cats, measuring time
into 12 hours for each day and each night,
and reading our fortunes in the constellation
were all invented in Iraq.
10. In March 1988, Saddam Hussein
ordered a chemical attack on Kurds in the
northern Iraqi town of Halabja, killing 5,000
people. The U.S. expressed horror at the act
at the time but still supported Hussein.

A. Western Asia
ISRAEL
Capital: Jerusalem
Area: 8,019 sq mi
Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic,
English
Money: New Israeli shekel
Life Expectancy: 81
Literacy Rate: 97%

President
Reuven Rivlin is an Israeli politician and lawyer who
has been President of Israel since 2014. He is a member of
the Likud party. Rivlin was Minister of Communications
from 2001 to 2003 and subsequently served as
Speaker of the Knesset from 2003 to 2006 and again from
2009 to 2013. On 10 June 2014, he was elected as
President of Israel.

15 facts about Israel
1. Israel has the third highest rate of
entrepreneurship in the world.
2. Israel was the first country to ban
underweight models.
3. The last time they won, they were
represented by a transgender pop star,
Dana International. The only other time
that’s happened is this year’s winner,
Conchita Wurst, from Austria.

4. Israeli banknotes have braille markings
on them.
5. The largest known dog cemetery in the
ancient world was discovered in the coastal
city of Ashkelon.
6. Out Magazine names Israel the
gay capital of the Middle East.
7. Last Valentine’s Day, 60 million Israeli
flowers were sent to Europe for sale.

8. Motorola developed the cell phone in
Israel.
9. The world’s largest pepper was grown in
Israel’s Moshav Ein Yahav, as recorded by
The Guinness Book of World Records in
2013.
10. Israel’s national bird is the hoopoe.
11. A cooking oil developed in Israel is
capable of breaking up cholesterol and
other blood fats.

12. Israel is one of only nine countries in the
world that can launch its own satellites into
space.
13. Israel’s national flower is the Cyclamen
persicum.
14. Israeli scientists have discovered the
cause of chronic bad breath and an easy
way to fix it!
15. More than 44% of all lawyers registered

A. Western Asia
JORDAN
Capital: Amman
Area: 34,495 sq mi
Languages: Arabic (official), English
Money: Jordanian dinar
Life Expectancy: 80
Literacy Rate: 93%

King of Jordan
Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein has been
the Kingof Jordan since he ascended the
throne on 7 February 1999 upon the death
of his father King Hussein. He is a member
of theHashemite family, which has ruled
Jordan since 1921 and claims to be
descended from the Islamic
prophet Muhammad.

5 Facts about Jordan
1. Welcome Country
2. Everybody loves the King
3. Olive Tree Paradise
4. National Flower – Black Iris
5. No oil in Jordan?!

A. Western Asia
KUWAIT
Capital: Kuwait City
Area: 6,880 sq mi
Government: Constitutional emirate
Money: Kuwaiti dinar
Life Expectancy: 77
Literacy Rate: 93%

Emir of Kuwait
Sabah IV Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is the 15th
Ruler and 5th Emir of Kuwait and
the Commander of the Military of Kuwait. He was
sworn in on 29 January 2006 after confirmation by
theNational Assembly of Kuwait. He is the fourth
son of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

7 Facts about Kuwait
1. Until 1962, Kuwait celebrated its National
Day on June 19, the anniversary of its
independence, but in 1963 it changed it
to February 25 to avoid the hot weather
of June.
2. February 25 was the anniversary of
Sheikh Abdullah becoming Emir of
Kuwait in 1950. February 26, 2011 was
the day Iraq’s occupying forces were
driven out of Kuwait.

3. Kuwait has the world’s fifth largest oil
reserves.
4. The national bird of Kuwait is the falcon.
5. In 2006, Kuwait became the first country
to introduce the sport of camel racing, with
remote controlled robot jockeys.

6. Kuwait is the only country in the world
with no natural water supply from lakes or
reservoirs but it did open its first grass golf
course in 2005.
7. Eating, drinking, playing loud music and
dancing during daylight hours in public are
against the law in Kuwait during the month
of Ramadan.

A. Western Asia
LEBANON
Capital: Beirut
Area: 4,015 sq mi
Languages: Arabic (official), French,
English, Armenian
Money: Lebanese pound
Life Expectancy: 75
Literacy Rate: 87%

President
Michel Suleiman or Sleiman was the
President of Lebanon from 2008 to 2014.
Before becoming President, he served as
Commander in chief of the Lebanese Armed
Forces from 1998 to 2008.

10 facts about Lebanon
1. 70% of the students are in private
schools.
2. The name LEBANON appears 75 times
in the Old Testament.
3. Beirut is the 10th most popular shopping
destination in the world.
4. Lebanon has 18 religious communities.

5. 40% of the Lebanese people are
Christians
6. Lebanon is the country that has the most
books written about it.
7. According to Christianity, Jesus Christ
made his 1st miracle in Lebanon, in Sidon
(The miracle of turning water into wine).

8. Lebanon is the only Arab and Asian
country that has absolutely no desert.
9. Egypt’s Pharaohs imported Lebanon’s
cedars, marble and timber.
10. The creator and the production manager
of the iPod is originally Lebanese. (Tony
Fadel)

A. Western Asia
OMAN
Capital: Muscat
Area: 119,499 sq mi
Government: Monarchy
Languages: Arabic (official), English,
Baluchi, Urdu
Money: Omani rial
Life Expectancy: 74
Literacy Rate: 81%

Sultan of Oman
Sultan Qaboos bin Said is the Sultan of
Oman. He rose to power after overthrowing
his father, Said bin Taimur, in a palace coup
in 1970. He is the 14th-generation
descendant of the founder of the Al Bu
Sa'idi dynasty.

15 Facts about Oman
1. Oman Is One Of The Oldest Human-
Inhabited Places On Earth
2. Oman Was Once Colonized By The
Portuguese
3. Oman Is Currently The Oldest
Independent State In The Arab World

4. Oman Has Been A Long Friend Of The
United States Of America
5. Oman Opposed The Saudi Intervention
In The Yemeni Civil War
6. Sultan Qaboos, Oman’s Leader,
Modernized The Country
7. Terrorism Does Not Exist In Oman

8. Crime In Oman Is “Extremely Rare”
9. Omanis Are Also Eligible To Vote
10. Oman Is Also An Oil Producer
11. “Mountain Dew” Is The Top Selling
Beverage In Oman
12. Oman Has Hundreds Of Luxurious
Hotels

13. Tourism Will Soon Be One Of Oman’s
Largest Industries
14. Winter Is The Best Time To Visit
Oman
15. Omani Were The Masters Of
Shipbuilding

A. Western Asia
QATAR
Capital: Doha
Area: 4,473 sq mi
Government: Traditional monarchy (emirate)
Money: Qatari rial
Life Expectancy: 78
Literacy Rate: 96%

Emir of Qatar
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is the eighth
and current Emir of the State of Qatar. He is the
fourth son of the previous Emir of Qatar, Sheikh
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

5 Facts about Qatar
1. Qatar is the second oil richest country in
the world
2. The Qatari people are mainly Muslims
and the Sharia law is written law in the
constitution.
3. The Qatari dress modestly and this is also
asked from tourists. So women need to cover
their skin and should not miniskirts, leggings or
sleeveless tops and dresses and men should
not wear shorts and sleeveless t-shirts.

4. Qatar is a desert country bordering Saudi
Arabia on the Arab peninsula. There is only
limited natural water supply and thus there
is not much agriculture or crop farming
possible, only 5% of the lands is used for
agriculture such as for date palm
plantations.
5. The national airline is Qatar Airways.
Their logo includes the head of an oryx, the
national animal of Qatar.

A. Western Asia
SAUDI ARABIA
Capital: Riyadh
Area: 830,000 sq mi
Government: Monarchy
Languages: Arabic
Money: Saudi riyal
Life Expectancy: 74
Literacy Rate: 87%

King of Saudi Arabia
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is
the King of Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques and the head of
the House of Saud.

Beautiful places in Saudi Arabia

10 Facts about Saudi Arabia
1. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace
of Islam and home to the religion’s
holiest shrines, Mecca and Medina.
2. Saudi Arabia is the largest country
in the world without a river.

3. Motorists in Saudi Arabia have invented a
perilous but exciting new driving sport called
Sidewalk Skiing, which involves balancing a
car on its side while the car is in motion.
4. Fifteen of the 19 accused hijackers of the
terrorist attacks on New York City and
Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001,
came from Saudi Arabia.

5. Saudi Arabia is considering ending
beheadings as the national form of
execution in favor of firing squads because
of a lack of swordsmen to be found in the
country.
6. Riyadh’s camel market is one of the
largest in the world and sells about 100
camels per day.
7. Birth control is illegal in Saudi Arabia.

8. Non-Muslims are not allowed to have
Saudi citizenship, and non-Muslim places of
worship are not allowed in Saudi Arabia.
9. Baby camel is one of the most tender of
Saudi meats; it is a specialty of Jeddah and
Jejaz
10. In Saudi Arabia, everything closes
during salat (prayer time). Strictly enforced,
salat can last up to 30 minutes.

A. Western Asia
SYRIA
Capital: Damascus
Area: 71,498 sq mi
Government: Republic under authoritarian
regime
Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish,
Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian
Money: Syrian pound
Life Expectancy: 75

President of Syria
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria,
commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed
Forces, General Secretary of the ruling
Ba'ath Party and Regional Secretary of the
party's branch in Syria.

Facts about Syria
1. There are no nursing homes in Syria, the
elderly are cared for by their family.
2. Syrians food is either very sweet or very
sour.
3. Several Countries Accuse Assad of
Using Chemical Weapons

4. An-Nashid as-Suri (The Syrian National
Anthem) begins "Protectors of the nation,
peace be upon you."
5. There is a diminishing number of bears in
the mountains.

A. Western Asia
TURKEY
Capital: Ankara
Area: 302,535 sq mi
Government: Republican parliamentary
democracy
Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish,
others
Money: New Turkish lira
Life Expectancy: 73

President of Turkey
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the 12th and
current President of Turkey, in office since
2014. He previously served as the Prime
Minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014 and as
the Mayor of İstanbul from 1994 to 1998.

10 Facts about Turkey
1. It has one of the world’s oldest and
biggest malls.
2. Turkey is packed with cultural
heritage.
3. One of the Mediterranean’s primary
sea turtle nesting beaches is here.

4. Turkey gifted tulips to the world
(you’re welcome, Netherlands).
5. Istanbul has one of Europe’s most
exciting art scenes.
6. You can cross continents
underground.
7. A new type of plant is discovered
every 10 days.

8. Turkey’s film industry is booming.
9. Oil wrestling is the national sport.
10. It’s home to some of the most
important sites in Christendom.

A. Western Asia
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Area: 32,278 sq mi
Government: Federation
Languages: Arabic (official), Persian,
English, Hindi, Urdu
Money: U.A.E dirham
Life Expectancy: 77
Literacy Rate: 78%

President
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the
President of the United Arab Emirates, the
Emir of Abu Dhabi and the commander of
the Union Defence Force.

7 facts about UAE
1. The Dubai police fleet includes a
Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley. This is
to allow them to catch speeders who can
outrun other cars
2. There are ATMs in Dubai that dispense
gold bars
3. Dubai has no sewer system, instead they
use poop trucks to haul the entire cities’
excrement away.

4. In Dubai, you must obtain a “liquor
license” to drink from the privacy of your
own home.
5. People living over the 80th floor of
Dubai’s tallest building in the world have to
wait 2 extra minutes before breaking their
fast during the holy month of Ramadan
because they will be able to see the sun
longer than those on the ground.

6. In 1956, Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to
build a mile-high building (528 stories) in
Chicago. The World’s current tallest
building, the Burj Khalifa is only 1/2 a mile
high and was inspired by Wright’s design.
7. Ferrari owns the largest indoor theme
park in Abu Dhabi. Their rollercoaster, the
Rosso, is the World’s fastest, reaching
150mph in 5 seconds.

A. Western Asia
YEMEN
Capital: Sanaa
Area: 203,850 sq mi
Languages: Arabic
Money: Yemeni rial
Life Expectancy: 64
Literacy Rate: 64%

President
Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi is a Yemeni
general and politician. He has been the
President of Yemen since 27 February
2012, and was Vice President from 1994 to
2012.

10 Facts about Yemen
1. Yemen was once divided into North and
South Yemen. South Yemen was a
communist state, while its neighbor,
North Yemen was republic. The country
was unified in 1990.
2. Yemenis take much pride in their wedding
traditions. An average wedding feast
lasts 21 days.

3. Yemen is an ultraconservative Muslim
country. Homosexual behavior is punishable
by death, and it is forbidden to take pictures
of women.
4. It is customary for Yemeni males to bring
a jambiya (a short, curved dagger) in public.
Not only does the handle of
the jambiya show the social status of a
person, but the dagger, by tradition, also
helps keep people from picking fights with
one another.

5. Yemen is one of the poorest countries in
the Arab world, due to declining oil
resources.
6. Qat, an addictive narcotic grown in
Yemen, uses more than a third of the
country's water supply.
7. Yemen's economy depends on foreign
aid and money sent home by Yemenis who
are employed in other parts of the Arabian
Peninsula.

8. Most Yemenis are farmers, herders or
craftsmen.
9. Most Yemenis are farmers, herders or
craftsmen.
10. Yemen is part of the Arab League.

B. South and Central Asia
AFGHANISTAN
Capital: Kabul
Area: 251,737 sq mi
Government: Islamic republic
Languages: Afghan Persian (Dari) and
Pashto (both official), Uzbek, Turkmen
Money: Afghani
Life Expectancy: 50
Literacy Rate: 28%

President
Ashraf Ghani is the current President of
Afghanistan, elected on 21 September
2014. An anthropologist by education, he
previously served as finance minister and
the chancellor of Kabul University.

5 Facts about Afghanistan
1. Afghanistan’s national game is called
Buzkashi, or in other words, goat-
grabbing. It’s a sport where the players
in two teams try to catch a goat while
riding on a horse, and gallop clear of
the others to drop it in a chalked circle.
It has been played for centuries and it
even got sponsors for it nowadays.

2. How do you call the people in
Afghanistan? Don’t call them Afghanis
because it is the currency in the country.
You can call the local people as Afghans.
Many people make mistake to differentiate
the currency and people living in the
country.
3. Did you know that the world’s two largest
standing Buddhas once stood in Bamiyan,
Afghanistan until the Taliban destroyed
them in 2001.

4. Poetry is a cherished part of Afghan
culture. Afghans have told their stories
in verse for more than 1,000 years.
Thursday night is “poetry night” in the
western city of Herat – men, women
and children gather to share ancient
and modern verse, listen to traditional
Herati music, and enjoy sweet tea and
pastries long into the night.

5. If you are interested to visit
Afghanistan for some reasons, you
need to come to Kabul. It is the capital
city in Afghanistan and is considered as
the largest one in the country.

BANGLADESH
Capital: Dhaka
Area: 55,598 sq mi
Languages: Bangla (official), English
Money: Taka
Life Expectancy: 70
Literacy Rate: 57%

President
Abdul Hamid is the 16th and current
President of Bangladesh. Prior to this
position, he served as the Speaker of the
National Parliament from January 2009 to
April 2013. He was the acting President
after the death of Zillur Rahman in March
2013.

7 Facts about Bangladesh
1. The Royal Bengal Tiger is Bangladesh’s
national animal. This majestic creature
has a roar that can be heard up to 3
kilometers away. Unfortunately, it is now
an endangered species.
2. More than half of Bangladesh’s
population is composed of farmers.

3. Bangladesh is sometimes called “the
playground of seasons” because it has six –
not four – separate seasons, which it calls
grismo (summer), barsha (rainy), sharat
(autumn), hemanto (cool), sheet (winter),
and bashonto (spring).
4. In Bangladesh, the left hand is considered
unclean, so always use your right hand
when eating or passing food, drinks – or
business cards!

5. In Bangladesh, the left hand is considered
unclean, so always use your right hand
when eating or passing food, drinks – or
business cards!
6. Although manufacturing and services are
increasing in importance, almost two-thirds
of Bangladeshi workers are employed in
agriculture. Most factories and enterprises
are owned by the government, and tend to
be inefficient.

7. Apart from cyclones, Bangladesh
regularly suffers from extensive flooding
caused by monsoon rains and melting
snows from the Himalayas.

BHUTAN
Capital: Thimphu
Area: 14,824 sq mi
Population estimate (2012): 716,896
Languages: Dzongkha (official),
Sharchhopka, Lhotshamkha, others
Money: Ngultrum
Life Expectancy: 68
Literacy Rate: 47%

Dragon King
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
is the fifth and current reigningDruk
Gyalpo or "Dragon King" of
the Kingdom of Bhutan.

After his father Jigme Singye
Wangchuck abdicated the throne in his
favour, he became King on 9
December 2006. A
public coronation ceremony was held
on 1 November 2008, an auspicious
year that marked 100 years
of monarchy in Bhutan.

8 Facts about Bhutan
1. Bhutan is one of the last countries in the
world to introduce television to its people.
The government lifted a ban on TV—and
on the Internet—only 11 years ago.
2. Anyone found guilty of killing a highly
endangered and culturally sacred black-
necked crane could be sentenced to life
in prison.

3. Bhutanese manners dictate that you are
to refuse food whenever it’s offered to you.
The tradition is to say the words “meshu
meshu” and cover your mouth with your
hands. You can give in, though, after two or
three offers.
4. At 24,840 feet, Gangkhar Puensum is the
highest point in Bhutan—and the highest
unclimbed mountain in the world

5. Bhutan is the only nation in the world
where the sale of tobacco is banned.
6. Thimpu is one of just two capital cities in
Asia that does not have a single traffic light.
(The other is Pyongyang, North Korea.)
There was such public outcry when local
officials installed a single signal that it was
quickly removed, and a traffic officer was re-
assigned to the intersection.

7. Bhutan is the first country in the world
with specific constitutional obligations on its
people to protect the environment. Among
its requirements: At least 60 percent of the
nation must remain under forest cover at all
times.
8. The word “Bhutan” translates to “Land of
the Thunder Dragon.” It earned the
nickname because of the fierce storms that
often roll in from the Himalayas.

INDIA
Capital: New Delhi
Area: 1,269,219 sq mi
Population estimate (2012): 1,205,073,612
Government: Federal republic
Languages: Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil,
Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi,
Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit (all official),
English, others
Money: Indian rupee
Life Expectancy: 67
Literacy Rate: 61%

President
Pranab Mukherjee is the 13th and current
President of India, in office since July 2012.
In a political career spanning six decades,
Mukherjee was a senior leader of the Indian
National Congress .

10 Facts about India
1. The world's largest producer of milk
2. Largest number of vegetarians in the
world
3. India has a spa just for elephants
4. India's first President only took 50% of
his salary

5. Shampooing is an Indian concept
6. The wettest inhabited place in the
world
7. Rabindranath Tagore also wrote the
national anthem for Bangladesh
8. Freddie Mercury and Ben Kingsley are
both of Indian descent

9. Diamonds were first mined in
India
10. Snakes and Ladders
originated in India

IRAN
Capital: Tehran
Area: 636,372 sq mi
Government: Theocratic republic
Languages: Persian (official), Turkic,
Kurdish, others
Money: Rial
Life Expectancy: 70
Literacy Rate: 77%

President
Hassan Rouhani is the seventh President of
Iran, in office since 2013. He is also a
former lawmaker, academic and former
diplomat.

Facts about Iran
1. In Iran, couples that want a marriage
license are required to take an hour-long
lecture on contraception.
2. Iran’s capital and largest city, Tehran,
has some of the worst air pollution in the
world. An estimated 27 people die a day
from air pollution-related diseases.

3. Nearly half of Iran has an arid desert
climate. It receives less than 4 inches of
precipitation each year.
4. Many young girls in Iran are married
immediately after menarche.
5. In Iran, men who do not marry stay with
their natal family their entire life and are
described as na-mard (not-men).

6. Since ancient times, people in Iran have
used a water supply system called
a qanat(or kanat). It collects underground
water and moves it through tunnels to
places where people need it.
7. Most homes in Iran do not have tables
and chairs. Instead, people sit on cushions
on the floor to eat their meals.

8. Iranians have woven beautiful rugs for
over 2,500 years. When creating rugs,
Iranian weavers often make a mistake
intentionally. They want to show their belief
that “only God is perfect.” After oil, Iran’s
second largest export commodity is carpets.
9. The capital of Iran is Tehran, which
means, “warm slope.” Nearly 12 million
people live there

10. In Iran, females over the age of nine
must wear a hijab in public. Additionally,
religious rules do not allow women to wear
bathing suits when men are present.

KAZAKHSTAN
Capital: Astana
Area: 1,052,090 sq mi
Government: Republic with authoritarian
presidential rule
Languages: Russian (official), Kazakh
Money: Tenge
Life Expectancy: 70
Literacy Rate: 100%

President
Nursultan Nazarbayev. He has been the
country's leader since 1989, when he was
named First Secretary of the Communist
Party of the Kazakh SSR, and was
elected the nation's first president following
its independence from the Soviet Union in
December 1991.

5 Facts about KAZAKHSTAN
1. Apple trees originated in the mountains of
Central Asia. Scientists believe that the first
apple trees grew around Almaty, the former
capital of Kazakhstan, as far back as 20
million years ago. The name Almaty means
“a place of apples.” Many wild apple trees
still grow in parts of Kazakhstan

2. Kazakh men do not normally shake a
woman’s hand in mixed company. Upon
entering a room, they usually use both
hands to shake hands with every other man
in the room.
3. Kazakhs believe that whistling a song
inside a building will make you poor for the
rest of your life.

4. Kazakhstan has an unofficial taxi system.
People wave on the street, cars stop,
destination and price are discussed, and
they go.
5. The sun in the flag of Kazakhstan has 32
beams, which symbolize progress and
prosperity.

KYRGYZSTAN
Capital: Bishek
Area: 77,202 sq mi
Languages: Kyrgyz and Russian (both
official), Uzbek, others
Money: Som
Life Expectancy: 69
Literacy Rate: 99%

President
Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev has
been thePresident of Kyrgyzstan since 1
December 2011. He previously was Prime
Minister of Kyrgyzstan from 17 December
2010 to 1 December 2011, having also been
Prime Minister from 29 March 2007 until 28
November 2007.

He also served as Chairman of
theSocial Democratic Party of
Kyrgyzstan from 30 July 1999 to 23
September 2011.

7 Facts about Kyrgyzstan
1. The name of Kyrgyzstan comes from a
word in the Kyrgyz language meaning “we
are forty”, thought to be a reference to the
original 40 clans which unified to form the
country.
2. The Kyrgyz for “one” is “bir” pronounced
“beer”.

3. A popular drink in Kyrgyzstan is “kumyz”
which is made from fermented horse milk.
4. Kyrgyzstan’s walnut forests are among
the world’s largest natural forests of this
type.
5. The Kyrgyz were one of the groups who
raided the borders of China and created the
need for the construction of the Great Wall.

6. Alcohol is very cheap in Kyrgyzstan. A
bottle of vodka is priced at around 180 som
(3.5 EUR), while beer costs 60 som (1.2
EUR).
7. Tourists can negotiate with any car on
the road; they’re all potential taxis – if the
price is right.

MALDIVES
Capital: Male
Area: 115 sq mi
Languages: Dhivehi (official), English
Money: Rufiyaa
Life Expectancy: 75
Literacy Rate: 94%

President
Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, commonly
known as Abdulla Yameen, is a Maldivian
politician and current President of the
Republic of Maldives. He is the half-brother
of former President Maumoon Abdul
Gayoom.

5 Facts about Maldives
1. A Muslim Nation
2. Incredible Ocean Life
3. Underwater Cabinet Meetings
4. Alcohol Is Forbidden Outside Of
Resorts

NEPAL
Capital: Katmandu
Area: 56,827 sq mi
Government: Federal democratic republic
Languages: Nepali (official), Maithali,
Bhojpuri, Tharu, Tamang
Money: Nepalese rupee
Life Expectancy: 67
Literacy Rate: 60%

President
Bidhya Devi Bhandari is the second and
current President of Nepal, elected in
2015. She is the first woman to hold the
office.

5 facts about Nepal
1. Nepal Was Never Under Any Foreign
Invasion
2. Nepal Is The Only Country With A Non-
Rectangular Flag
3. Nepal Is The Birthplace Of Lord
Gautam Buddha

4. About 60% People In Nepal Surf
Internet With A Speed Which Is Below
256 Kbps
5. The Only Living Goddess In The World
Called Kumari Can Be Found In Nepal

PAKISTAN
Capital: Islamabad
Area: 307,374 sq mi
Languages: Urdu (official), Punjabi, Sindhi,
Siraiki, Pashtu, others
Money: Pakistani rupee
Life Expectancy: 66
Literacy Rate: 55%

President
Mamnoon Hussain is a Pakistani textile
businessman, nationalist conservative, and
politician who has served as the President
of Pakistan since 9 September 2013.

Facts about Pakistan
1- Highest Mountain Ranges In The World
2- Largest Deep Sea Port in the World
3- Highest paved International Road
4- Second Largest Salt Mine in the World

5- One of the Largest Deserts In The World
6- Highest Polo Field in the World
Shandur Top is located in Gilgit, Pakistan
and called “Roof of the World”, because it’s
elevated at a height of 12,200 ft.

7- Largest Irrigation System in The world
The world’s largest irrigation network
is present in Pakistan. It serves 14.4 million
hectares of cultivated land. The irrigation
system is fed by water from the Indus River.
8- Largest Ambulance Network in the World

9- First Islamic Country To Attain Nuclear
Power
Pakistan became the first Islamic country to
become a nuclear power on 28th May 1998.
The country ensured a defence against
possible threats from outside the country.
10- More than 50% of the Worlds Footballs
are made in Pakistan

Sialkot is a city famous for making
sports equipment. Hand-stitched
footballs are a trademark of the city.
Around 60 milion hand-stitched
footballs are produced by small firms in
Sialkot, Pakistan. In 2014, 42 million
official ‘Brazuca’ footballs
were exported to Brazil for the FIFA
World Cup. Even NASA tested the
football and declared it the best football
ever made.

SRI LANKA
Capital: Colombo
Area: 25,332 sq mi
Languages: Sinhala (official), Tamil, English
Money: Sri Lankan rupee
Life Expectancy: 76
Literacy Rate: 91%

President
Pallewatte Gamaralalage Maithripala
Yapa Sirisena is a Sri Lankan politician
who is the 7th and current President of Sri
Lanka, since 2015.[1][2]
Although born in
theWestern Province,

Sirisena hails from the North Central
Province of the country and is the first
president from that province. He is an
agriculturist and does not belong to the Sri
Lankan political elite.

TAJIKISTAN
Capital: Dushanbe
Area: 55,251 sq mi
Languages: Tajik (official), Russian
Money: Somoni
Life Expectancy: 66
Literacy Rate: 100%

President
Emomali Rahmon is a Tajik politician who
has served as Tajikistan's head of state
since 1992, and as President since 1994.
During the early years of his presidency,
Rahmon faced a civil war in which up to
100,000 people died.

TURKMENISTAN
Capital: Ashgabat
Area: 188,455 sq mi
presidential rule
Languages: Turkmen (official), Russian,
Uzbek, others
Money: Manat
Life Expectancy: 69
Literacy Rate: 99%

President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow is a Turkmen
politician who has served as the President
of Turkmenistan since 2006.

UZBEKISTAN
Capital: Tashkent
Area: 172,741 sq mi
presidential rule
Languages: Uzbek (official), Russian, Tajik,
others
Money: Uzbekistani som
Life Expectancy: 73
Literacy Rate: 99%

President
Islam Karimov is the first President of
Uzbekistan, in office since 1990. Karimov
was placed in an orphanage in Samarkand
at birth, growing up to study economics and
engineering.

C. Southeast Asia
BRUNEI
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Area: 2,226 sq mi
Government: Constitutional sultanate
Languages: Malay (official), English,
Chinese
Money: Bruneian dollar
Life Expectancy: 76
Literacy Rate: 93%

President
Hassanal Bolkiah is the 29th and current
Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei.

C. Southeast Asia
CAMBODIA
Capital: Phnom Penh
Area: 69,900 sq mi
Government: Multiparty democracy under a
constitutional monarchy
Languages: Khmer (official), French, English
Money: Riel
Life Expectancy: 63
Literacy Rate: 78%

President
Hun Sen is the 34th and current Prime
Minister of Cambodia, President of the
Cambodian People's Party (CPP), and
Member of Parliament (MP) for Kandal.

C. Southeast Asia
INDONESIA
Capital: Jakarta
Area: 735,358 sq mi
Languages: Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi,
Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya,
Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit
(all official), English, others
Money: Indian rupee
Life Expectancy: 67

President
Joko Widodo is the President of Indonesia,
in office since 2014. Previously he was
Mayor of Surakarta from 2005 to 2012 and
Governor of Jakarta from 2012 to 2014.

C. Southeast Asia
LAOS
Capital: Vientiane
Area: 91,429 sq mi
Government: Communist state
Languages: Lao (official), French, English,
others
Money: Kip
Life Expectancy: 63
Literacy Rate: 73%

President
Choummaly Sayasone is a Laotian
politician who has been General Secretary
of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party
and President of Laos since 2006.
Choummaly was born in Attapu.

C. Southeast Asia
MALAYSIA
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Area: 127,355 sq mi
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Languages: Bahasa Malay (official), English,
Chinese, Tamil, others
Money: Ringgit
Life Expectancy: 74
Literacy Rate: 89%

Prime Minister
Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun
Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth and current
Prime Minister of Malaysia. He was sworn
in to the position on 3 April 2009 to
succeed Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

C. Southeast Asia
MYANMAR
Capital: Nay Pyi Taw
Area: 261,228 sq mi
Government: Parliamentary government
with strong military influence
Languages: Burmese (official),minority
languages
Money: Kyat
Life Expectancy: 65
Literacy Rate: 90%

President
Thein Sein is a Burmese politician and
former military commander who has been
President of Myanmar since 30 March 2011,
having been elected by the Assembly of the
Union the previous month.

C. Southeast Asia
PHILIPPINES
Capital: Manila
Area: 115, 830 sq mi
Languages: Filipino (based on Tagalog) and
English (both official), regional languages
Money: Philippine peso
Life Expectancy: 72
Literacy Rate: 93%

President
Benigno Aquino III is a Filipino politician who
has been the 15th President of the
Philippines since June 2010. Aquino is a
fourth-generation politician and is currently
the chairman of the Liberal Party.

C. Southeast Asia
SINGAPORE
Capital: Singapore
Area: 269 sq mi
Government: Parliamentary republic
Languages: Chinese (Mandarin), English,
Malay, Hokkien, Cantonese, others
Money: Singapore dollar
Life Expectancy: 84
Literacy Rate: 93%

President
Tony Tan is the seventh President of
Singapore, in office since 2011. He served
as a Member of the Singapore Parliament
from 1979 to 2006 and held various
ministerial portfolios, including defence,
finance, Arts, trade and industry.

Facts about Singapore
1. Singapore permits buildings to be
constructed only up to a maximum height
of 280 meters as a safety measure for
planes landing and taking off from the
Changi Airport
2. The largest fountain in the world is
located in Singapore at Suntec City.
Made of cast bronze, it cost an estimated
US$6 million to build in 1997.

3. Singapore is a tiny nation and it has no
natural resources, so it has to import almost
everything it needs. It imports not only sand,
but even the fresh water from Malaysia.
4. At 165m, the Singapore Flyer is the
world's highest observation wheel, and is
the height of 31 male giraffes stacked on top
of one another.

5. Singapore is a city state meaning the city
itself is the country and its capital. Since
Singapore is a tiny nation, a person can
drive from one end of the country to the
other end in just a few minutes.

C. Southeast Asia
THAILAND
Capital: Bangkok
Area: 198,117 sq mi
Languages: Thai (Siamese), English,
regional dialects
Money: Baht
Life Expectancy: 74
Literacy Rate: 93%

Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-o-cha is the head of
government of Thailand. The prime
minister is also the chair of the Cabinet of
Thailand. The post has existed since
the Revolution of 1932, when the country
became a constitutional monarchy.

5 Facts about Thailand
1. Siamese cats are native to Thailand. In
Thai they are called wichen-maat, meaning
“moon diamond.” A 14th-century book of
Thai poems describes 23 types of Siamese
cats; today only six breeds are left. Giving a
pair of Si Sawat cats (a type of Siamese
cats) to a bride is supposed to bring good
luck to the marriage.

2. Thailand is home to what may be the
world’s longest snake, the reticulated
python. The largest one ever found
stretched over 33 feet (10 m) from end to
end.
3. The largest living lizard is native to
Thailand. The monitor lizard can grow as
long as 7 feet.

4. According to the World Economic Forum,
Thailand is the 13th friendliest country in the
world. Iceland is the friendliest.
5. Thailand has won just seven gold medals
at the Olympic Games - three in weightlifting
and four in boxing. Muay Thai boxing is the
national sport. It is known as “the art of eight
limbs” as it uses punches, kicks, elbows and
knees.

C. Southeast Asia
VIETNAM
Capital: Hanoi
Area: 127,881 sq mi
Languages: Vietnamese (official), French,
English, Khmer, Chinese
Money: Dong
Life Expectancy: 72
Literacy Rate: 94%

President
Trương Tấn Sang is a Vietnamese
politician, currently serving as the President
of Vietnam and one of the country's top
leaders, alongside prime minister Nguyễn
Tấn Dũng and Party general secretary
Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

Facts about Vietnam
1. Vietnam is the largest exporter of
cashews in the world, and the second
largest exporter of rice.
2. Among all developing countries, Vietnam
has one of the lowest unemployment
rates.

3. Ruou ran (snake wine), a Vietnamese
specialty of rice wine with a pickled snake
inside, allegedly can cure any sickness.
4. The Vietnamese keep potbelly pigs as
pets.
5. The Vietnamese language has six
different tones. A change in tone changes
the meaning of the word. This makes their
language somewhat difficult to learn.

D. East Asia
CHINA
Capital: Beijing
Area: 3,705,386 sq mi
Population estimate (2012): 1,343,239,923
Languages: Chinese (Mandarin; official),
Yue (Cantonese), local dialects
Money: Renminbi yuan
Life Expectancy: 75
Literacy Rate: 92%

President
Xi Jinping is the General Secretary of the
Communist Party of China, the President of
the People's Republic of China, and the
Chairman of the Central Military
Commission.

D. East Asia
JAPAN
Capital: Tokyo
Area: 145,914 sq mi
Government: Parliamentary government
with a constitutional monarchy
Languages: Japanese
Money: Yen
Life Expectancy: 84
Literacy Rate: 99%

Prime Minister
Shinzō Abe is the current Prime Minister of
Japan, re-elected to the position in
December 2012. Abe is also the President
of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and
chairman of the Oyagaku propulsion
parliamentary group.

D. East Asia
KOREA, NORTH
Capital: Pyongyang
Area: 46,540 sq mi
Government: Communist Dictatorship
Languages: Korean
Money: North Korea won
Life Expectancy: 69
Literacy Rate: 99%

Supreme leader
SuKim Jong-un is the supreme leader of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea,
commonly referred to as North Korea. He is
the son of Kim Jong-il and the grandson of
Kim Il-sung.

D. East Asia
KOREA, SOUTH
Capital: Seoul
Area: 38,541 sq mi
Languages: Korean, English
Money: South Korean won
Life Expectancy: 79
Literacy Rate: 98%

President
Park Geun-hye is the eleventh and current
President of South Korea. She is the first
woman to be elected as President in South
Korea and serving the 18th presidential
term.

D. East Asia
MACAO
Capital: Macao
Area: 11.39 sq mi
Government:
Languages: Chinese, Portuguese
Money: Macanese pataca
Life Expectancy: 80
Literacy Rate: 93%

D. East Asia
MONGOLIA
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Area: 603,909 sq mi
Government: Parliamentary republic
Languages: Khalkha Mongol (official),
Turkic, Russian
Money: Togrog/tugrik
Life Expectancy: 69
Literacy Rate: 97%

President
Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj is
a Mongolian politician who has
been President of Mongolia since 2009. He
previously served as Prime Minister in 1998
and again from 2004 to present.

D. East Asia
TAIWAN
Capital: Taipei
Area: 13,892 sq mi
Government: Multiparty democracy
Languages: Chinese, (Mandarin),
Taiwanese, Hakka dialects
Money: New Taiwan dollar
Life Expectancy: 78
Literacy Rate: 96%

President
Ma Ying-jeou is a Taiwanese politician who
is the current President of the Republic of
China. His previous political roles include
Justice Minister and Mayor of Taipei. He
was also the Chairman of the Kuomintang
between 2005–2007 and 2009–2014.

Famous Cities
China – Beijing
Japan – Tokyo
Laos – Vientiane
Afghanistan - Kabul
India – New Delhi
South Korea - Seoul

Over 4 billion people live in Asia.

ASIAN
ANIMALS
• Asia have some
very unique and
special animals.
• Many animals
are
ENDANGERED.

ASIAN Foods
People all over the
world eat Asian
Food everyday.
Most people eat
rice everyday of
their lives.
Some famous dishes
include:
• Noodles
• Sushi
• Curry

Unusual Asian Food
In China people eat
Bird’s Nest Soup and
Chicken Feet.
In Japan people can eat
chocolate dipped
grasshoppers and fried
caterpillars.
In Laos some people like
eating insects.

Other Interesting Facts
• The Tangram comes from
Asia.
• Asia is home to the highest
point in the world - Mt
Everest in Nepal and the
lowest point in the world –
the Dead Sea.
• More than half of Asia’s
population live in just two
countries – India and
China

ASIA (Part 1)

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