Aaliyah Robinson

Global 9

Japan and Jamaica

Japan and Jamaica, two islands on totally different sides of the world, different
types of people and cultures, but the some of the same types of geographic features.
Even though both countries have a fourteen hour difference from each other, one
geographical feature that time cant change from the countries are the mountains. The
mountains not only make up the countries but they make both countries liveable.

Japan has a total of about 6,850 islands. This extends to the pacific coast of east
asia. The main islands from north to south are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and
Kyushu. The Ryukyu islands include, Okinawa and are the chain to the south of
Kyushu. Together they are known as the Japanese Archipelago. The country including
all of its islands, lies between the latitudes 24 and 46N, with longitudes of 122 and
146E. Jamaica lies between the latitude of 17 and 19N,and longitude of 76 and 79
W. Because of Japan's location it is considered more of humid monsoon zone.
Jamaica's location makes it a more tropical zone because of how close it is to the
equator.

Japan can be negatively affected because,it has one-hundred and eight active
volcanoes on its island.Destructive earthquakes often results in tsunamis. These
earthquakes and tsunamis happen several times each century. This is when the
mountains come into good use. If a tsunami were to actually happen, then the

mountains would be good for safety. This is because of the higher grounds surrounding
the area.

Then it is Positively affected. Japan's landmass is suitable for agriculture. They

mostly do it in the mountains near swift rivers. The highest mountain in all of japan is mt
fuji. There are yet any signs of any type of agriculture on mt fuji, but in the villages
below, near the base of the mountain, there is a lot of agriculture going on. Rice is the
most important crop in japan and is only planted on the best agricultural land. Other
crops that are planted are soybeans, wheat, barley and a widely selected variety of
fruits and vegetables.

In Jamaica the island is made up of coastal lowlands, a limestone plateau, the

blue mountains, and a group of volcanic hills in the east. Mountains especially including
the blue mountains dominate the island.They are surrounded by a narrow coastal
plain.This can negatively affect the country because Jamaica lies in the hurricane belt of
the Atlantic Ocean.Because of this the island suffers significant storm damage. For
example, hurricanes Charley and Gilbert in 1951 and 1988 caused major damage and
many deaths, from the country being surrounded by water, that was bound to happen.

Chief towns and cities include the capital Kingston on the south shore,
Portmore, Spanish Town, Mandeville, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Montego Bay
on the north shore. There are a lot of mini markets in these areas but where they
start, are all they up in the mountains and near the forests.That is a positive thing
for the country, since they do a lot in and out trading.The things that are grown in

Jamaica include Sugar Cane,Bananas, Coffee, Citrus, Yams, Ackees,

Vegetables, Poultry, Goats, Milk, Crustaceans, Mollusks.

So to sum everything up, there are positive effects and negative effects
that come in and out of them both of these countries. Yes these islands are
surrounded by a lot of water, but when bad things happen they just go up into
the mountains. The mountains is what make up these two countries. They
provide the people food and place to live. Without this special geographical
feature, the countries Japan and Jamaica wouldnt be as known as they are
today.