This atlas provides a portrait of a planet that retains its enduring features whilst changing every second. It is designed to introduce children to the diversity of the world's environments and the people who inhabit them, giving detailed facts and figures about population, climate and resources in all the countries of the globe. Each continent has a section of the book devoted to it, which in turn comprises a survey of its countries. The sections are set out in such a way as to combine descriptive passages, photographs, pictorial maps and specific information on flags, major cities, and population. A final section analyzes pressing environmental concerns such as ozone depletion, industrial pollution and the threatened survival of tribal peoples. The communications revolution and future power sources are also explained. The work shows, too, how maps are made, and explains the information they provide, from the height of the mountains to the position of country boundaries.