Understanding our natural world

• The earth is the third planet and it is the fifth largest planet. A major part of the earth is landform-features
• These landforms occur on the surface of the earth and some within the earth
• Some Major Landforms of the Earth

  • Mountains
  • Ridges
  • Valleys
  • Lakes
  • Rivers
  • Oceans
• Mountains

  Steep-sided land masses which are high in elevation as compared to the surrounding
• Mountain ranges in Ghana


  • Agumasto range
  • Kwahu Manpong Koforidua range
  • Akwapim togo range
  • Gambaga escarpment
  • Atewa Atwiredu range
• Tallest mountain in Ghana

  Afadjato Mountain located between two towns Liedi and Ligte Worte in the Volta Region
• Importance of Mountains

  • Source of minerals
  • Source of water
  • Source of construction materials
  • Habitat or home for organisms
• River

  A large natural stream flowing water found everywhere on earth that merges into the sea or ocean
• Examples of rivers in Ghana and the world

  • River Tono
  • River Pra
  • River Volta
  • River Nile
  • River Niger
  • River Congo
• Oceans

  Large bodies of salt water surrounding a continent
• Deserts

  Regions or landscapes that receive little precipitation or have very low rainfall pattern, lacking or having little vegetation and generally unsuitable for the survival of plants and animals
• Examples of deserts in the world

  • Arctic Desert
  • Kalahari Desert
  • Gobi Desert
  • Arabian Desert
  • Australian Desert
  • Antarctic Desert
  • Sahara Desert
• Deserts are often uninhabited but possess stark beauty
• Tropical rainforest

  A forest occurring in tropical areas of the world, abundant with many species of wildlife and vegetation, having high annual rainfall and high average temperatures
• Examples of tropical rainforests

  • Amazon Rainforest
  • Congo Rainforest
• Human activities that destroy the features of the earth

  • Bush burning
  • Indiscriminate logging
  • Mining and Quarrying
  • Construction
• Activities that destroy or negatively affect water bodies

  • Use of inappropriate fishing methods
  • Mining
  • Open defecation
  • Bathing and other household activities
  • Felling of trees along river banks
  • Plastic pollution
• Examples of natural disasters

  • Earthquake
  • Tsunami
  • Mudslide
  • Hurricane
  • Bush fire
  • Flood
• The commonest natural disaster in Ghana is flood
• Ways of managing disasters

  • Prevention
  • Mitigation
  • Preparedness
• Oxygen makes up about 21% of the air we breathe.
• Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the air we breathe.
• The Earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and trace amounts of other gases.
• Trand environment


  • When the bushes are burned, the mountains become bare exposing them to severe erosion, washing most mountains away
  • Indiscriminate logging destroys the forest and vegetation cover leading to erosion
  • Indiscriminate mining in mountains destroys them
• Construction


  • The construction of roads and houses on mountains leads to their destruction, e.g. the destruction of Abu Mountain in the Eastern Region
• Activities that destroy or negatively affect water bodies


  • Use of inappropriate fishing methods like DDT and other chemicals
  • Mining in water bodies affecting water quality through oil spills and heavy machinery
  • Open defecation in water bodies
  • Bathing and other household activities in water bodies
  • Felling of trees along river banks
• Effects of plastic pollution on water bodies


  • Loss of wildlife as animals mistake plastics for food
  • Flooding as discarded plastic bags block storm drains and culverts
  • Health problems as plastics degrade water quality with toxic compounds
  • High cost of water treatment due to presence of toxins from plastic pollution
• Examples of natural disasters


  • Flood
  • Earthquake
  • Drought
  • Landslide
  • Hurricane
  • Tornado
  • Volcanic eruption
  • Tsunami
  • Storm
• Earthquake


  Sudden violent shaking of the ground, typically causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action
• Tsunami


  Huge waves caused by either an underground earthquake or volcanic eruption
• Mudslides


  Occur when the ground gets so wet that the dirt turns into a liquid mass and flows rapidly down a slope
• Volcanoes


  The opening of the earth's crust where molten lava, hot ash and gases from below the earth's crust escape into the air
• Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones


  The same weather phenomenon, where a large storm of cloud spins in circles, touches down and reaches a certain height in the sky
• Bush fires


  Occur when a large area of dried plants is set on fire without control, killing soil organisms and exposing land to erosion
• The commonest natural disaster in Ghana is flood, with isolated cases of earth tremor. Major floods occurred in 2009, 2015 and 2016, causing loss of life and damage
• Natural disasters in Ghana


  • Flood
  • Earth tremor
  • Mudslide
• Steps to manage disasters


  • Prevention: Actions to avoid an incident
  • Mitigation: Measures to prevent or reduce damaging effects
  • Preparedness: Activities to increase ability to respond when a disaster occurs