Get Started for FREE
Sign up with Facebook Sign up with X
I don't have a Facebook or a X account
 Your new post is loading...
Your new post is loading...
Scoop.it!
More complex international borders in this follow up to part 1. Via Mike Busarello's Digital Storybooks 
Scoop.it!
A unique collection of ancient Andean textiles will soon return to Peru, more than 80 years after they were smuggled out of the country to end up in Gothenburg city, Sweden. Via David Connolly
|
Scoop.it!
Which countries consume the most electricity per person? You might guess the United States would top the World Bank’s list, but the Nordic countries of Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden are actually at or near the top. Icelanders consume an average of 52,374 kilowatt hours per person per year, Norwegians 23,174 kilowatt hours, Finns 15,738 kilowatt hours, and Swedes 14,030 kilowatt hours. Americans are not far behind, with an average consumption of 13,246 kilowatt hours per person. The Japanese consume 7,848 kilowatt hours. This image is part of a global composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite in 2012. The nighttime view of Earth was made possible by the “day-night band” of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite. VIIRS detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe dim signals such as city lights, wildfires, and gas flares. The city lights of several major Nordic cities are visible in the imagery, including Stockholm, Sweden (population 905,184); Oslo, Norway (634,463); Helsinki, Finland (614,074), and Reykjavik, Iceland (121,490). Tags: Europe, energy, remote sensing, development, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway.
Lena Minassian's curator insight,
February 18, 2015 7:17 PM
This articles discusses which countries use the most electricity and believe it or not, the Nordic countries are at the top of the list. It shows two satellite images in the nighttime for you to get a better visual as to which areas of these countries use the most electricity. There are multiple factors that go into these countries consuming this much energy. One factor that is interesting is the high demand for electricity because of the long winters in these countries. 
Kevin Cournoyer's curator insight,
May 6, 2015 9:34 AM
These images are really interesting and expose just how much electricity the Scandinavian countries actually use. It is surprising to think of these nations as large energy consumers because of their general reputation as progressive, clean, and liberal places. This brief article is an excellent example of how maps and satellite images can be misleading, though. As opposed to places like the U.S. or China, energy consumption in the Scandinavian countries actually produces only small amounts of greenhouse gases and is based on renewable energy sources.
This shows an interesting and not immediately apparent geographic distinction between the Scandinavian countries and places such as China and the U.S. Chinese and United States energy consumption is enormous because of those countries' ability and desire to produce large amounts of goods quickly. Household energy use is also high because of the widespread use of electronics such as televisions, computers, and appliances. The Scandinavian countries, on the other hand, have a need for increased energy use because of their geographic location: long, dark winters mean an increased need for electricity and for longer periods. Also, Scandinavia is able to produce energy at lower costs due to its use of renewable energy sources. So though those countries may consume much more energy than their non-Scandinavian counterparts, they are doing so responsibly and for a reason. 
Katie Kershaw's curator insight,
February 22, 2018 11:41 AM
This map of Scandinavian energy usage holds a lot of insight to what this region of the world is like. Shockingly, Scandinavians all use more electricity per person per hour than the U.S. The people in Iceland use the most electricity of any other country and they use more than double the next closest consumer, at 52,374 kw/hour. This made me scratch my head a bit at first, because when I think of large energy consumers I think of Americans with huge t.v.s with surround sound, central air, and more useless kitchen appliances than anywhere else. However, the article goes on to explain the conditions that contribute to Scandinavians high power usage. First of all, they are located in a region with a very harsh climate. They must use tons of electricity to heat their buildings. Additionally the months of darkness in some regions require lights to be in constant use. Another regional factor that leads to high electricity usage is manufacturing. Since the region is abundant in natural resources like aluminum, a lot of electricity is needed to turn these resources into usable goods. The natural resources in Scandanavia also keeps electricity prices cheap, so people are more likely to use high amounts. Despite the high electricity usage by Scandanavians make minimal pollution because the sources of power they use are renewable resources. This makes sense because these countries are able to harness a lot of hydropower with their access to the ocean and waterfalls.
Scoop.it!
Als wäre es gestern gewesen. Wenn ich mir die Bilder von unserem Fjäll Äventyr anschaue, bin ich in Gedanken wieder dort. Im Reich der Rentiere stapfe ich durch feuchtes Moos – auf dem Rücken schweres Gepäck und an meiner Seite Anna, die zum ersten Mal mit mir hier unterwegs ist. Was vor vielen Wochen noch in Schweden begann, ist nun endlich fertig geworden: der Text über unsere Tour von Foskros nach Tänndalen. Draußen hält der schwedische Nieselregel seit Stunden an. Es ist die Art von Regen, bei der man sich beim Wandern ständig fragt, ob man den Regenponcho auspacken soll oder nicht. Jetzt sitze ich im Warmen und habe den zweiten Saunagang hinter mir.Der Sommer hat sich hier in Westschweden seit Tagen verabschiedet. Das Thermometer klettert kaum über zehn Grad. Doch wer im August zum Wandern nach Schweden ins Fjäll fährt, der tut das nicht wegen der Sonnenstunden. Anna und ich haben es uns im Ferienhaus meiner Eltern gemütlich gemacht und genießen entspannte Tage nach unserer neuntägigen Tour. Neun Tage, in denen wir das spätsommerliche Fjäll unterschiedlicher wohl kaum erleben konnten. Stürmisch-kalt blies uns der Wind auf den Hochebenen entgegen. Fast märchenhaft und idyllisch erlebten wir die Laub- und Nadelwälder. Regen und Sonne wechselten sich ab..... Via Thomas Menk
|
Borders seem to be a problem whether you live in one continent or another, everyone wants power and control but not everyone can gain it. This video focuses and goes into depth about enclave and exclave borders, showing the irregularity of the borders in different areas that causes conflicts and problems. An example of a problem that the citizens have to deal with is that some villages can not leave due to the road blocks due to the borders. I can not imagine not being able to leave a certain area for all that time, I would go insane and I imagine those people are as well. International borders power has to be split somehow and not everyone can always come to an easy decision because parts of the land are claimed but the people do not have any control of it. Irregular borders cause more trouble than they are worth in my opinion. The final interesting fact about this video was that you learn that Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are the two locations that have the most irregular border, these places must have the most conflict and problems. These borders are in places such as Germany, South Asia, China, Belgian, Sweden and Central Asia.
A fascinating look into the complexity of borders. It is always important to keep in mind when looking at maps that the borders are neither permanent or defined as it exists in reality. Borders on world maps are rough estimations of what the borders actually are for they can't depict precise details on such a large scale. Furthermore regional/local maps sometimes do not whether as to conform to the border misconception unfortunately. In Central Asia as defined int he video the border were primarily a result of the Soviet Unions attempts to divided ethnic minorities reducing their power (primarily Stalin). As a result the countries after the collapse proceeded to claim the ethnic groups which created enclaves within each-other. As long as these groups are on peaceful terms this kind of thing isn't an issue. Unfortunately it does make the peoples lives in the enclaves slightly more difficult due to having to cross the border twice to see the rest of your country. This kind of thing was even done to the Jews in the first century AD who like the Russians wanted to eliminate or at least reduce attempts at revolution by the local populace. Hopefully Central Asia has or will make the lives of these enclaves easier.