Socstud 111

• NATURAL LANDSCAPE
• Natural landscapes

  Areas that have not been modified by human activity
• Natural landscapes

  • Many are natural reserves today, to protect them from human activity
• Humanized landscapes


  Landscapes that have been modified by human activity, e.g. rural, agricultural, human settlements, industrial or mining areas
• Factors influencing human settlement

  • Climate
  • Relief
  • Water
• Climate


  • Only a few people live in deserts because water is so scarce, little human settlement in very cold climates
• Relief


  • Most of the world's population lives at a fairly low altitude, flat, coastal regions are often densely populated
• Water

  • River valleys are densely populated, abundant water available for human consumption and agriculture
• Some natural landscapes are practically uninhabited, but technology can be used to overcome natural obstacles, e.g. irrigation carries water into dry, desert land
• Today, many landscapes around the world are threatened by pollution, deforestation, over-exploitation of natural resources, and other problems caused by human activity
• Several international organisations promote the goal of sustainable development, encouraging people to use natural resources without causing long-term damage to the environment
• Equatorial rainforests


  Found in regions close to the equator, have dense and varied vegetation due to heat and humidity
• Equatorial rainforests


  • Home to an extremely wide range of plant and animal species, especially insects and birds
• Equatorial climate


  Found near the equator, temperatures always hot (average around 27°C), little temperature variation, precipitation abundant and regular, more than 2000 mm a year
• Rainforests


  • Trees are broad-leaved and evergreen, vegetation grows in three layers (undergrowth, intermediate trees and shrubs, and very tall trees forming a canopy), have a lot of species of animals and plants
• Rainforests are almost uninhabited because of the heat and humidity, but some native peoples live by hunting or gathering plants
• Layers of a rainforest

  1. Emergents (over 40m tall)

  2. Canopy (25m tall)

  3. Forest floor (few plants adapted to lack of sunlight, some climb to receive more light)
• Rainforests are in danger due to deforestation, land being used for agriculture or new towns, and over-exploitation of natural resources
• Tropical climates


  Found in hot climate zone, temperatures always high, rainfall abundant (500-2000 mm) but not regular, two seasons: rainy and dry
• Tropical landscapes

  Include savannah, tropical rainforest, and hot desert
• Tropical rainforests are similar to equatorial rainforests but have less dense vegetation
• In tropical regions most people live on the coast or near the rivers
• Tropical savannahs


  Open grasslands, usually with scattered bushes or trees, characteristic of much of tropical Africa
• Tropical savannahs

  • Home to many herbivores as well as carnivores, most people live on the coast or near the rivers, there are small towns
• Desert climates


  Very little precipitation (less than 250 mm), two types: hot deserts near the tropics with extreme temperature variations, and cold deserts in temperate zones with hot and cold seasons
• Desert landscapes


  • Vegetation and animal life are scarce due to lack of water, but some species have adapted, almost uninhabited but some nomads live there, some towns have developed around oil and natural gas industries
• Mediterranean climates


  Found around the Mediterranean sea and in other parts of the world, temperatures very high in summer and mild in winter, precipitation not abundant and mainly in autumn and spring, summers are dry, droughts are a big problem
• Mediterranean landscapes


  • Rivers have irregular flow depending on the season, floods are a danger, Mediterranean forests have different trees, shrubs and plants but landscape has changed a lot due to human action both inland and on the coast
• Oceanic climates


  Located on the west coasts of temperate zones, temperatures are mild, precipitation is abundant and regular, rivers have a regular flow
• Oceanic landscapes


  Vegetation is abundant and green, include meadows, deciduous forests, and moors, these areas are densely populated
• Continental climates


  Located in the temperate zones in the Northern hemisphere, temperatures have a great range and are extreme, precipitation generally occurs in summer, rivers could be frozen during winter
• Continental landscapes


  • Coniferous forests or taigas (long winters, coniferous trees, very small population)
  • Grasslands (found on plains, include prairies with moderate rainfall and most people living there, and steppes which are drier areas with low grass)
• Polar climates


  Found in both poles, the coldest on Earth, always cold, 6 months of night, little precipitation in the form of snow
• Polar landscapes


  • Covered by ice and snow, subsoil is frozen so plants cannot grow, only a few animals live there, near the polar circles there is the tundra landscape with some vegetation and more animals, human life is very difficult
• Mountain or alpine climates


  Located in the highest mountain ranges, temperatures very low in winter and cool in summer, abundant precipitation, temperatures and precipitation change with altitude
• Alpine landscapes


  • Vegetation changes from one part of the mountain to another, depending on altitude, sunny or shady slope, and windy areas, population depends on climate