An introduction to world regional geography organized according to developed and less developed regions, this text provides an overview of the regional geography of the world, as well as basic systematic geography. It covers Europe, the Soviet Union, North America, Australia, Japan, Middle and South America, Africa, Southwest Asia, the Indian Perimeter, China, and Southeast Asia. Other material featured includes regional concepts and classification; culture and landscape; pleistocene influence; climate regions; water cycles; and soil distribution. Specifics of each region are also considered, such as population, politics, changing natural environment, and economics. Also discussed are urbanization, industrialization, environmental hazards and diseases, and more. Several indices and a glossary are featured.