Touring the World Flashcards
For every tangible product you sell, whether it’s a flight to Paris or a hotel room on Waikiki, you are also selling a _______ along with it.
Destination
A study of the earth and is composed of two main divisions: physical geography and human geography
Traditional Geography
The study of the earth’s natural features and surface
Physical Geography
The study of people and their patterns of settlement and activity.
Human Geography
The study of the world and its destinations, with practical information relevant to travel professionals.
Tourism Geography or Destination Geography
The Prime Meridian is a line of longitude at which the date changes.
True or False
False
You would recommend renting a car in Bermuda to see the island.
True or False
False - Tourists cannot rent cars in Bermuda
The wind blows east to west through the Caribbean. Which coast of the island of Barbados would experience the calmest weather and the least amount of rain?
a. North
b. South
c. East
d. West
West
Rail travel in Europe is strongly recommended because the trains are some of the most advanced and punctual in the entire world.
True or False
True
Both Tahiti and Fiji are part of Polynesia in the Pacific.
True of False
False Fiji is part of Melanesia.
Which of the following IS NOT an archeological site in Mexico?
a. Tulum
b. Machu Picchu
c. Chichen Itza
d. Uxmal
b. Machu Picchu
Xian is a historic city in China that is most famous for the 8,000 terra cotta statues that were excavated.
True or False
True
Which of the following IS NOT a unique rail service offered in Europe?
a. Al Andalus
b. The Blue Train
c. Royal Scotsman
d. Venice Simplon Orient Express
b. The Blue Train (South Africa)
Which of the following IS NOT a true statement?
a. Brussels, Amsterdam, and Luxembourg are capital cities of the Benelux countries
b. Peloponnese is a large peninsula in Greece with many archeological treasures
c. A typical one-day trip from London can include visits to Windsor Castle or Greenwich.
d. Costa del Sol and the Costa Brava are both key resort areas in Portugal
d. Costa del Sol and the Costa Brava are both key resort areas in Portugal (Spain)
If it is 9:00 am in Los Angeles (-8 GMT) what time is it in Athens Greece (2+GMT)?
7:00pm
Large land masses in the world.
Continents
How many continents are there?
Seven
Name the continents
North America South America Africa Europe Asia Australia Antarctica
What’s the difference between traditional geography and tourism geography?
Traditional Geography is the study of the world and its destinations, presenting what is relevant and practical to the travel professional
Tourism Geography is the study of the world and its destinations as seen through the eyes of a travel agent, what is relevant and practical to the travel professional.
Why is learning about land formations so important to the travel professional?
Much of what we sell involves land formations of the earth. Some examples: Ski and summer sport activities in mountains; cruise vacations through fjords; trips to national parks and canyons, etc.
Massive elevations that profoundly affect travel due to their effect on the climate
Mountains
Mountains that have openings from which heated solid, liquid, and gaseous matter is ejected.
Volcanoes
Deep, narrow valleys having high, steep cliffs.
Canyons
Land projections extending out into the water, generally longer than capes
Peninsulas
Land that is surrounded by water and smaller than a continent.
Islands
Land projections extending out into the water, generally shorter than peninsulas
Capes
Islands formed by coral.
Atolls
Small, low islands comprised of sand and coral.
Cays
Ridges of land that rise to or just below the surface of the ocean, just offshore. Comprised of sand, rock and coral, they often provide excellent diving opportunities/.
Reefs
A portion of the earth’s surface where there is little or no rainfall.
Deserts
Alps in central Europe, Rockies in Western US and Canada, Andes in South America, Himalayas in Asia
Examples of mountains.
Kilauea in Hawaii, Mt. Etna in Sicily
Examples of volcanoes
The Grand Canyon in Arizona, Copper Canyon in Mexico, Fish River Canyon in Namibia.
Examples of canyons
Baja California in Mexico, Iberia in Spain
Examples of Peninsulas
Cape Canaveral in Florida, Cape Cod in Massachusetts
Examples of Capes
Bermuda, Tahiti, Galapagos, Jamaica, Martinique, Santorini, Sicily, Balearic Islands.
Examples of Islands
Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Cayman Trench in the Cayman Islands, Bonaire
Examples of Reefs
Sahara in North Africa, Gobi in China and Mongolia, Sonoran and Mojave in the US.
Examples of Deserts
Cayman Islands, Florida Keys, Ambergris Cay in Belize
Examples of Cays
What is the tallest mountain in the world?
Mauna Kea in Hawaii when measured from the base which is below the ocean. This mountain is over 33,000ft. Mt. Everest is 29,000 ft and is the tallest when measured from sea level.
Name the 4 oceans
Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic.
What is the difference between an ocean and a sea?
- Seas are much smaller than oceans
- Empty into an ocean but are at least partially enclosed by land
How many seas are in the world?
At least 50. Most popular are the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Black, and Baltic seas.
Large areas of ocean water that penetrate into a land mass.
Gulfs
Smaller areas of ocean water that penetrate into a land mass. They tend to be less enclosed by land.
Bays
Inlets from an ocean or sea that cut deeply into the coastline. They are narrow with steep cliffs.
Fjords
Large natural bodies of flowing water
Rivers
Bodies of water surrounded by land and are generally smaller than seas. They are usually freshwater because they are young and haven’t had the time to accumulate quantities of minerals that create salinity or saltiness. Salt lakes tend to be ancient.
Lakes
Gulf of Mexico, Persian Gulf, Gulf of California
Examples of gulfs
Bay of Naples, Hudson Bay, Bay of Bengal
Examples of bays
Coastlines in Norway, Chile, Argentina, Alaska and New Zealand.
Examples of fjords
Mississippi River, Rhine River, Danube River, Nile River, Yangtze River, Amazon River.
Examples of Rivers
Lake Erie, Lake Geneva, Lake Victoria, Lake Biwa
Examples of Lakes
Mountains are ridges of land that lie just offshore and rise to or just below the surface of the water. True or False
False
A peninsula is
-Land Projections extending out into the water; not entirely surrounded by water
or
-Narrow inlets with steep cliffs that are deeply indented into the coastline.
Land Projections extending out into the water; not entirely surrounded by water
Oceans are the largest bodies of water.
True or False
True
Lakes are
-Large bodies of water that open into oceans and are partially enclosed by land
or
-Bodies of water completely surrounded by land
Bodies of water completely surrounded by land
A “Cay” is
-A land formation surrounded by water that is small, low-lying, and comprised of sand and coral
or
-A small island formed by coral
A land formation surrounded by water that is small, low-lying, and comprised of sand and coral
Narrow inlets with steep cliffs that are deeply indented into the coastline are called
-Bays
or
-Fjords
Fjords
A reef is a series of islands formed by coral.
True or False
False
An atoll is/are
-Small islands formed by coral
or
-A land formation surrounded by water that is small, low-lying, and comprised of sand and coral
Small islands formed by coral.
Seas are large bodies of water that open into oceans and are partially enclosed by land.
True or False
True
Parallel lines drawn east to west between the equator and north/south poles. This is a measurement of places north or south of the equator, which is set at 0 degrees. The north pole is 90 degrees and the south pole is -90 degrees. Half way between the poles at the equator would be 45 degrees.
Latitude
North of the equator
Northern Hemisphere
South of the equator
Southern Hemisphere
What is the latitude of the Tropic of Cancer?
23.5 degrees north of the equator (+23.5)
What is the latitude of the Tropic of Capricorn?
23.5 degrees south of the equator (-23.5)
What is the significance of the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn?
The tropics of Cancer and Capricorn denote the northern and southern boundaries of the Tropics. Tropical locations experience minimal fluctuation in temperature (about 8 degrees annually) and daylight hours.
Lines that are drawn north to south, all converging at the poles. Measures the locations of places east or west of the prime meridian.
Longitude
The line that runs through Greenwich England is represents 0 degrees.
Prime Meridian
From Greenwich England westward to Greenland, North/South America, and Hawaii.
Western Hemisphere
From Greenwich England eastward to Europe, Africa, Asia Australia, half of Antarctica and the majority of the Pacific Islands/Oceania.
Eastern Hemisphere
Are lines of longitude equidistant?
No, they converge at the poles.
How are absolute location measurements expressed?
Latitude, the first coordinate, is the number of degrees north or south of the equator. Longitude, the second coordinate, is the number of degrees east or west of the prime meridian.
What City is located at 40 deg N, 83 deg W
Columbus OH USA
What City is located at 32 deg S; 58 deg W
Buenos Aires, Argentina
What City is located at 41 deg S, 175 deg E
Wellington, New Zealand
What City is located at 59 deg N, 18 deg E
Stockholm, Sweden
How many time zones are there?
24
Approximately how many degrees of longitude does each time zone represent?
15 degrees
What is the equivalent in time for each time zone?
1 hour
What is the time zone at prime meridian?
Greenwich mean time (GMT) or Zulu
If a place is located to the west of the prime meridian, then it is a number of hours ____ than GMT
Earlier
If a place is located to the east of the prime meridian, then it is a number of hours ____ than GMT
Later
When it is 11am in New York, what time is it at the North or South Pole?
Any time you want it to be… or you can walk through all times zones because the longitude lines converge at the poles.
Why is Greenwich England the basis for world time measurement?
Greenwich, England is the basis of world measurement because the navigational records compiled by the Greenwich Observatory back in the 1600s proved to be the most accurate.
With twelve time zones running west and east from GMT, the point at which they meet on the opposite side of the globe would logically have to be both twelve hours earlier and twelve hours later at the same time! This problem was solved with the creation of an imaginary line drawn north to south called the _________.
International Date Line
Why is the International Date Line not straight?
It is drawn around islands and other land masses to avoid confusion. When a traveler crosses the International Date Line he or she will be in another “day.”
When you cross the IDL east to west, you ___ one full day.
Advance
When you cross the IDL west to east, you _____ one full day……
Move back
You are in Kansas City (GMT-6) and your office hours are 9am - 5:30p. You have to contact a tour operator in Germany (GMT+1) and they are open 8am - 5pm. What time must you place your call?
Between 9am and 10am.
The sum of weather over a period time.
Climate
Outdoor conditions right now.
Weather
Winters: cool, damp, and wet. Temperatures 30–50°F, little snow, lots of drizzle.
Summers: warm and wet, temperatures 60–80°F, rainy with lots of drizzle.
Marine West Coast
Winters: mild overall, temperatures usually above freezing, rainfall distributed throughout the year with maximum during summer months.
Summers: hot, temperatures 75–90°F, rainy.
Humid Sub-tropical
Two seasons: winter and summer.
Winters: mild and rainy with temperatures 40–60°F; snow only in higher elevations.
Summer: hot and dry with temperatures 80–90°F.
Mediterranean
Winters: mild to warm, with little rain.
Summers: hot and dry with temperatures 90–100°F, little rain.
Desert Tropical and Sub-tropical
No distinction between winter and summer; tropical rain forest has abundant rainfall all year; tropical savannah having an uneven distribution of rain, with a definite dry and wet season.
Tropical Moist
Four seasons.
Winter: cold, 20–40°F. Precipitation evenly distributed throughout the year; gentle rain and thunderstorms in summer, flurries and snowstorms in winter. This climate zone only exists in the northern hemisphere.
Spring and fall: mild transitional period, 30–50°F.
Summer: hot temperatures 60–90°F.
Continental
Wide range of temperatures.
Winter: long and bitter cold, temperatures below freezing most of the time.
Summer: short, temperatures 60–80°F.
Subarctic
Where can you find the Marine West Coast climate?
North America: Alaska panhandle/southeastern region, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver; Europe: Amsterdam, Bergen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Hamburg, London, Paris; Pacific Rim: Auckland, New Zealand; and Melbourne, Australia; South America: Chile (Lake district - pictured.)
Where can you find the Humid Sub-tropical climate?
North America: Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Memphis, New Orleans, Orlando; Pacific Rim: Hong Kong (pictured); South America: The Pampas of northeastern Argentina, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
Where can you find the Mediterranean climate?
North America: Los Angeles, San Francisco; Africa: Algiers, Cape Town, Casablanca, Tunis; Asia: Beirut, Tel Aviv; Europe: Athens, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Istanbul, Lisbon, Monaco, Rome; Pacific Rim: Perth; South America, Santiago
Where can you find the Desert Tropical and Sub-tropical climate?
North America: Baja California, Baja Mexico, El Paso, Phoenix; Africa: Kalahari Desert, Sahara Desert; Asia: Bahrain, Bombay, Gobi Desert, Kuwait, Riyadh, Tashkent; Pacific Rim: Alice Springs; South America: Lima
Where can you find the Tropical Moist climate?
North America: Miami; The Caribbean: Bahamas, Puerto Rico; Africa: Dakar, Lagos, Nairob; Asia and the Pacific Rim: Bali, Bangkok, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), Darwin, Fiji, Ho Chi Minh, Manila, Singapore, Tahiti; Central America: Acapulco, Panama City, San Salvador; South America: Caracas, Cartagena, Iquitos, Manaus
Where can you find the Continental climate?
North America: Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Montreal, New York, Quebec, Toronto; Asia: Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo; Europe: Budapest, Helsinki, Kiev, Minsk, Moscow, Munich, Warsaw
Where can you find the subarctic climate?
North America: Colorado Mt. ski areas, Nome, Rocky Mt. ski areas; Africa: Mt. Kilimanjaro; Asia: Lhasa, Katmandu, Srinagar; Europe: Mountain ski areas of Alps and Pyrenees, Northern Scandanavia; South America: Cuzco
What are the other factors to local weather conditions?
- Coastal areas are more temperate
- High elevations are cooler and low elevations are warmer
- The windward side of mountains are more rainy and the air is warmer and more moist
- The leeward side of mountains are drier and cooler.
The side of an island or mountain facing away from the wind
Leeward
The side of an island or mountain facing the wind
Windward
Why are many resorts located on the western or leeward coast in the Caribbean?
The leeward side is drier with more sunshine. Also beaches tend to be calmer.
What are the 4 factors aside from latitude that influence climate?
Elevation
Topography
Ocean Currents
Prevailing Winds
Would Mexico City, located at a higher elevation, be hotter or cooler than the land surrounding it?
Mexico city is cooler. At a higher elevation the temperatures are cooler. Fr every 1,000 feet of elevation, the temperature drops an average of 3.5 deg F.
What are the two types of maps typically used in travel/tourism?
Political and Relief
These maps show boundaries, coastlines, island nations, major bodies of water, country names, and national capitals.
Political maps
These maps show natural features of the land: mountain ranges and peaks, valleys, hills, rivers, and coastlines for example. Colors and shading are used to show elevation — how high the land is compared to sea level. Relief maps show how everything looks.
Relief Maps
What are the major map styles?
-Flat maps (for example Mercator maps)
-Route Maps (visual tool to see air or train routes)
-Globes (Represent the earth in 3d
Locator maps (small area maps with number/letter grids to locate attractions, etc.)
Flat maps don’t show true distance between two points. True or False
True, many times the shortest distance is curved. For example, for Los Angeles to London the shortest distance is across the north pole.
North America consists of:
- Canada
- United States (includes Hawaii and Alaska)
- Mexico
- Central America (Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama)
- The Caribbean Islands (including Bermuda and The Bahamas)
South America consists of:
South America consists of twelve independent countries (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezula, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname) and three dependent territories of the United Kingdom and France (Falkland Islands, French Guiana, South Georgia and Sandwich Islands).
North and South America are the two continents that make up the ___________ Hemisphere
Western
_____________ is the number one cruise destination in the world.
The Caribbean
When you sail through the Panama Canal you are sailing ______ to ______.
North/South
Train trips in south america include these two exciting routes.
Curitiba-Paranagua (Brazil) and Cuzco-Machu Picchu (Peru)
Each of the inn’s 110 rooms are uniquely decorated by themes.
Madonna Inn San Luis Obispo CA
Colonial edifice recalls the plantation period of southern history.
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville TN
At the end of the Denali Park Road and without television, cell phone service and internet, a stay here allows guests to truly experience the splendor and tranquility of the Alaskan wilderness.
Kantishna Roadhouse in Denali National Park Alaska
Stately, classic resort for both summer (with its crystal lake capped by a glacier) or in winter when it is a haven for skiers.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Lake Louise Alberta Canada.
An old, established, and famous resort featuring old world charm and impeccable service (at impeccable prices!)
The Beakers in Palm Beach Florida
A retired ocean liner now converted into an iconic floating hotel moored in Long Beach.
The Queen Mary in Long Beach Califormia.
Plan that includes Breakfast plus one other meal.
Modified American Plan.
This resort offers most casitas (rooms) with private pools; the use of matching pink jeeps are optional.
Las Brisas in Acapulco Mexico
A fantasy resort with Moorish architecture, huge pool, and private beach with Arabian tents.
Las Hadas in Manzanillo Mexico
Offers a spa escape, world-renowned cuisine, and pristine beaches.
Grand Velas Riviera Nayant in Puerto Vallarta
Small country inns in Puerto Rico with plenty of local atmosphere that have been converted from plantation homes and other historic buildings.
Paradores
Resorts found around the globe, offering resort living at one price that may include airfare, room, meals, tips, entertainment, and use of sports equipment.
All-Inclusives
These are active cattle ranches in South America that offer room and board at reasonable prices.
Estancias
Found throughout the jungle regions of the Amazon basin, these lodges are extremely primitive; most don’t have running water or electricity; only for the adventurous.
Amazon Safari Lodges
Where are Bermuda and the Bahamas?
They are Caribbean islands in North America.
Would you recommend rail service in Mexico?
No, The rail system in Mexico is not as well developed as in the US or Canada.
What are 3 transportation recommendations you would give to clients touring the US or Canada?
Rail, Self-drive and motorcoach
Name two types of lodging distinctive to South America.
Estancias (active cattle ranches) and Amazon Safari Lounges (primitive jungle lodges)
Describe what all-inclusives are and give 3 examples in the Caribbean.
All-inclusives are resorts that include accommodations, all meals, beverages, non-motorized water sports, etc.
Examples include Sandal, Rui, AM Resorts, Royalton, etc.
This popular destination does not have car rentals.
Bermuda
What is the best way to travel from city to city in Mexico or Central America?
By airplane.
Points of interest in the Eastern US
Washington, D.C. — heart of political America that includes the Capitol, the White House, and the Smithsonian Institution museums.
Everglades National Park (Florida)
Civil War Battlefields from Pennsylvania south.
Colonial Williamsburg (Virginia) — Restored capital of the Virginia colony.
Points of interest in the Western US
Grand Canyon and Colorado River (Arizona) — Clients can descend into the canyon by helicopter, mule, hiking, airplane, or river rafting excursions.
Yosemite National Park and Redwood National Park (California)
Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Arches, and Canyonland (all in Utah)
Mount Rushmore (South Dakota) — Memorial in stone of four former presidents.
Denali National Park (Alaska) — Denali (formerly known as Mt. McKinley), the highest mountain on the continent, is located here.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Big Island of Hawaii) — Stand almost on the brink of active volcanoes.
Points of interest in Canada
Quebec City (Quebec) — North America’s only walled city. Strong French flavor.
Niagara Falls (Ontario) — Take a boat ride on the Maid of the Mist.
Cabot Trail (Nova Scotia) and Prince Edward Island — Maritime regions of seafaring history and scenic beauty.
Victoria (British Columbia) — More “British” than Britain!
Points of Interest in Mexico and Central America
Chichen Itza, Uxmal, and seaside Tulum — Yucatan archeological ruins in Mexico.
Toltec Pyramids of Teotihuacan — One of the first planned cities in the Americas from 1,500 years ago (Mexico).
Tikal (Guatemala) — Site of ancient Mayan ruins.
Points of Interest in South America
Machu Picchu (Peru) — Incan archeological site.
Iguazu Falls (Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina) — Three South American countries share the world’s largest waterfall, with more than 270 falls cascading over 300 feet to the river below.
Entertainment and Theme Parks in the US
Disney World (Florida) and Disneyland (California) — Major theme parks.
Las Vegas (Nevada) — Gambling mecca in North America.
Nashville (Tennessee) — An entertainment hub for country music.
Branson (Missouri) — A rival to Nashville.
Things to do in the Caribbean (Sports/Activities)
Yacht chartering — prevalent in the Bahamas and Virgin Islands.
Underwater scuba and snorkeling — Cayman Islands, Bonaire, and Virgin Islands are noted for this.
Tennis and Golf — Bahamas and Bermuda.
bling and Nightlife — San Juan, Puerto Rico; Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas.
Things to do in Mexico (Sports/Activites)
Deep-sea fishing — Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán.
Beach activities/resorts — Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Manzanillo, Cancun.
Diving in Cozumel.
Where would you find the Grand Canyon?
Arizona, USA
Where would you find Denali National Park?
Alaska, USA
Where would you find colonial Williamsburg?
Virginia, USA
Where would you find the Vail Ski Resort?
Colorado, USA
Where would you find Chichen Itza?
Mexico
Where would you find Tikal?
Guatemala
Where would you find Machu Picchu
Peru
Where would you find Cabot Trail?
Nova Scotia Canada
Name the entertainment center in Missouri that rivals Las Vegas and Nashville.
Branson
If your clients want gambling and nightlife in the Caribbean, what two islands would you recommend?
Puerto Rico (San Juan) & Bahamas (Nassau or Freeport)
This continent is a vast continent that is comprised of more than 50 political entities that include independent and semi-independent countries and micro-states.
Europe
_______ tiny political units that are holdovers from medieval times.
Micro-states
Some of the microstates in Europe include_____
Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City
Because of its dramatically jagged coastline, ____ has a longer coastline for its size than any other continent.
Europe
The geological boundary between Europe and Asia is _______.
the Ural Mountain range
Surface travel in Europe is more fun and interesting by _____.
Rail
Cons of car rentals in Europe
- Gas is expensive compared to the US and is sold per liter vs by the gallon.
- Need an international drivers license
- Manual transmissions are more prevalent in Europe
- In cities, traffic and parking can be a problem
Pros of car rentals in Europe
- Roads are good and well maintained
- Easy to travel between metropolitan areas