"Contains a collection of 80 ... specially commissioned world maps that show you where everything is on our planet. The world's most dangerous predators, ancient mummies, disastrous asteroid impacts, and towering skyscrapers--find out where they all are in this ultimate atlas that showcases the best of geography, history, nature, culture, and technology"--Flap p. [1] of dust jacket.

Relief shown by shading, gradient tints, and land forms. Relief shown pictorially. Includes index and bibliographic references. Includes color illustrations of national flags (pages 186-187). "Geography as you've never seen it before"--Cover.

Land, sea, and air.Introduction -- Earth's crust -- Earthquakes -- Mountains -- Volcanoes -- Ocean floor -- Ocean in motion -- Rivers -- Craters and meteorites -- Hot and cold -- Rain and snow -- Hurricanes -- Biomes -- Forests -- Deserts -- Ice -- Time zones -- Living world. Introduction -- Dinosaur fossils -- Predators -- Deadly creatures -- Alien invasion -- Bird migrations -- Whales -- Sharks -- River monsters -- Insects -- World of plants -- Biodiversity -- Unique wildlife -- Endangered animals -- Extinct animals -- People and planet. Introduction -- Where people live -- Nomads -- Young and old -- Health -- Pandemics -- Poverty -- The world's gold -- Billionaires -- Food production -- Food intake -- Literacy -- Pollution -- Garbage and waste -- Clean water -- Fossil fuels -- Alternative energy -- Climate change -- Wilderness -- Engineering and technology. Introduction -- Air traffice -- Shipping -- Railroads -- Roads -- Tallest buildings -- Internet connections -- Satellites and space junk -- Armed forces -- History. Introduction -- Fossil humans -- Prehistoric culture -- Ancient empires -- Ancient wonders -- Mummies -- Medieval wonders -- Medieval empires -- Castles -- Battlegrounds -- The last empires -- Revolutions -- Shipwrecks -- Industrial wonders -- Culture. Introduction -- Languages -- Holy places -- Tourism -- Art -- Statues -- Festivals -- Television -- Stadiums -- Car racing -- Roller coasters -- National flags.