Asia - Many Countries

Even though we've covered 22 different countries in Asia, we're not even half way through all of them!

There are some very small countries that are just the size of a city!

Here is a list of 49 countries in Asia!

Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste/East Timor, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

Asia is the largest continent, so it's no surprise it has so many countries!

(from: wikipedia - list of sovereign states and dependent territories in asia)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Columbia

Sri Lanka

We just learned about the country of Lebanon.

Sri Lanka is a small country in Asia, just South of India.

(from: wikipedia - sri lanka)

To eat in Sri Lanka, you might have kiribath, which is a kind of rice pudding made with coconut milk.

(from: wikipedia - kiribath)

Cyril Ponnamperuma was a famous scientist from Sri Lanka that came to the United States to work on the space program at NASA.

(from: wikipedia - cryil ponnamperuma)

Hundreds of years ago, a king built a palace inside a giant stone mountain, called Sigiriya.

(from: wikipedia - sigiriya)

The most popular sport in Sri Lanka is called cricket. It is a little like baseball, but the bat is much larger like a paddle.

(from: wikipedia - cricket)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Brazil

Lebanon

Lebanon is a small country in the Middle East in Asia, West of Syria.

(from: wikipedia - lebanon)

To eat in Lebanon you might have kibbeh nayyeh, which is uncooked lamb meat with spices.

(from: wikipedia - kibbeh nayyeh)

A famous poet from Lebanon was Khalil Gibran. He was the third best selling poet of all time.

(from: wikipedia - khalil gibran)

One of the largest ancient buildings is in the city of Baalbeck, a place called the Temple of Bacchus.

(from: wikipedia - temple of bacchus)

Through history, the cedar trees that grew in Lebanon were very important for making buildings, ships and even medicine. The cedar trees in Lebanon are still a symbol of the nation today.

(from: wikipedia - cedrus libani)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Caribean Islands

Jordan

Jordan is a country in the Middle East in Asia, in between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

(from: wikipedia - jordan)

For a meal in Jordan you might have mansaf, which is lamb with yogurt and rice.

(from: wikipedia - mansaf)

Daoud Hanania is a famous surgeon in Jordan, and was the first to perform heart surgery in the country.
(from: wikipedia - daoud hanania)

A very famous tomb was carved out of a mountain in a place called Petra.

(from: wikipedia - al khazneh)

There is an ancient place in Jordan called Bethabara that people believe is the place where John the Baptist brought people to be baptized.

(from: wikipedia - bethabara)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Central American Countries

Iraq

We just learned about the country of Saudi Arabia.

Iraq is a country in the Middle East in Asia, just south of Turkey.

(from: wikipedia - iraq)

For a meal in Iraq you might have fattoush, which is pita bread with leafy vegetables and other mixed vegetables.

(from: wikipedia - fattoush)

One of the most powerful kings the world ever saw was Nebuchadnezzar, who was from the area where Iraq is now. When he was king there, the land was called Babylon.

(from: wikipedia - nebuchadnezzar)

There are ancient ruins in the town of Hatra

(from: wikipedia - hatra)

The area is sometimes called the cradle of civilization because it is where some of the oldest buildings in the world are found.

(from: wikipedia - cradle of civilization)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Mexico

Saudi Arabia

We just learned about Afghanistan.

Saudi Arabia is a country in Asia South of Israel.
It is also in an area known as the Middle East along with Israel and Turkey.
(from: wikipedia - saudi arabia)

For a meal in Saudi Arabia, you may have Kabsa, which is spices with rice, meat and vegetables.

(from: wikipedia - kabsa)

A famous woman scientist in Saudi Arabia is Hayat Sindi.
It is very difficult for girls in that country to go to college or be scientists.
Many people there think that women should only stay home and cook and watch children.
Hayat Sindi has made many successes and helps teach little girls in her country that they can be anything they want to be.

(from: wikipedia - hayat sindi)

In the town of Mada'in Saleh, there are some giant tombs carved into the side of mountains.

(from: wikipedia - mada'in saleh)

In Saudi Arabia, women have to wear something called a hijab, which covers their head and chest.

(from: wikipedia - hijab)

Men wear something called a thawb which is like a long robe.

(from: wikipedia - thawb)

Kid Facts - Blast from the past: United States of America

Afghanistan

Afghanistan is country in Asia South of Uzbekistan.

(from: wikipedia - afghanistan)

For lunch in Afghanistan, you might have badenjan which is eggplant.

(from: wikipedia - afghan cuisine)

The baba mountain range goes through Afghanistan.

(from: wikipedia - koh i baba)

Women in Afghanistan have to fight to have equal rights, and one famous woman who is helping women be equal in their country is Anarkali Honaryar

(from: wikipedia - anarkali honaryar)

The country is also known for some of the best pomegranates!

(from: wikipedia - afghanistan)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Canada

Uzbekistan

We just learned about the country of Malaysia.

Uzbekistan is a country in Asia West of China.

(from: wikipedia - uzbekistan)

For dinner in Uzbekistan, you might have plov, which is rice, meat carrots and onions.

(from: wikipedia - uzbekistan)

One of the fastest bicycle racers in the world is from Uzbekistan, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov.

(from: wikipedia - djamolidine abdoujaparov)

Aral sea in Uzbekistan was once the fourth largest sea in the world.
Some people who needed drinking water took it from rivers that came out of that sea, and it drained it almost empty.

(from: wikipedia - aral sea)

The city of Bukhara has many wonderful buildings.

(from: wikipedia - bukhara)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lattitude & Longitude

Malaysia

We just learned about the country of Nepal.

Maylasia is a small country in Asia that is made up of two peninsulas.

One is just North of Indonesia and the other is just south of Thailand.


(from: wikipedia - malaysia)

For dinner in Malaysia you maight have nasi lemak,
which is cookied rice with anchovies, peanuts, egg, lamb curry, vegetables, and sambal tumis.

(from: wikipedia - nasi lemak)

The Petronas Twin Towers in the city of Kuala Lumpur are the tallest twin towers in the world.

(from: wikipedia - petronas twin towers)

Michelle Yeoh is a famous actress from Malaysia.

(from: wikipedia - michelle yeoh)

A special type of dance in Malaysia is called Joget.

(from: wikipedia - Joget)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Prime Meridian

Nepal

We just learned about the country of Burma.

Nepal is a small country located in the Himalayan mountains, between India and China.


(from: wikipedia - nepal)

In Nepal you might have some momo to eat, which is a steamed bun, sort of like a donut!

(from: wikipedia - nepal)

If you want to climb one of the mountains in Nepal, you may need to bring a yak!

(from: wikipedia - nepal)

The highest mountain peak in the world is at the top of Mount Everest in Nepal.

(from: wikipedia - mount everest)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Arctic Ocean

Burma

We just learned about the country of the Philippines.

Burma is a country just East of Bangladesh.
It is also called Myanmar.

(from: wikipedia - burma)

Lahpet thohk is a popular meal, it is pickled tea salad!

(from: wikipedia - burmese cuisine)

One of the largest types of snakes in the world is a Burmese python, called that because it can be found in Burma.

(from: wikipedia - burmese python)

There are some beautiful castles in an area called Mrauk U.

(from: wikipedia - burma)

The saung is a type of Burmese musical instrument, kind of like a harp.

(from: wikipedia - culture of burma)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Southern Ocean