The DK World Atlas combines the latest cartographic information with state-of-the-art computerized terrain modeling to take you on an unparalleled journey around the globe. More than 450 maps created especially for this book show you exactly what the world really looks like today -- including the newest nations. Authoritative and easy to use, the DK World Atlas opens with twelve magnificent double-page spreads that give a global overview of the physical and human world as it is today. Then each continent is surveyed in detail, with maps describing the continent's physical landscape, political and cultural makeup, and the distribution of resources and economic activity. At the heart of the atlas are the regional pages, which combine high-quality mapping with photography, diagrams, and landscape models -- all fully explained in detailed text and captions -- to provide an encyclopedic guide to the world in which we live.