Life in the Deserts

In South America, close to the equator (between 10N and 10S). It is the largest river basin in the world.

Hot and wet throughout the year. High humidity. It rains every day without warning.

Thick forests growing in the Amazon. So thick that roof is created by leaves, blocking sunlight. Ground is dark and damp.

Tribal people. Men hunt and fish. Women take care of crops (Tapioca, Pineapple). They practice slash and burn agriculture.

Farmers clear land by cutting/burning trees. Nutrients go to soil. Crops are grown. After soil loses fertility, they move to new patch. Forest regrows.

Large apartment-like houses with steeply slanting roofs found in the Amazon basin.

Trans-Amazon highway (1970) made all parts accessible. Helicopters used. Indigenous people displaced. Destruction of forest (Deforestation) is accelerating.

In the Indian subcontinent, in the subtropical region (10N to 30N latitude).

Fertile plains, Himalayas and Sundarbans delta. Ox-bow lakes are common. Monsoon climate (mid-June to mid-Sept).

Paddy (Rice). It requires sufficient water, so it is grown in areas of high rainfall. Wheat, maize, sorghum are also grown.

Tropical Deciduous trees (Teak, Sal, Peepal). Thick bamboo groves in Brahmaputra plain. Mangrove forests in Delta.

Elephants, tigers, deer, monkeys. One-horned rhinoceros (Brahmaputra plain). Royal Bengal Tiger (Delta). Aquatic life (Susu dolphin).

Blind freshwater dolphin found in Ganga and Brahmaputra. Its presence indicates health of the river. Pollution kills them.

Fertile soil implies good agriculture. Flat land is good for houses/transport. Hence high density of population.

Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna, Kolkata. All have population over 10 lakhs.

Well developed. Roadways, Railways. Waterways are effective (Kolkata is a port on Hooghly). Airports.

Pollution. Waste from cities and industries is discharged into the rivers.

An integrated conservation mission to clean and protect the Ganga river.

Steep slopes are cut into flat steps (terraces) to grow crops. This prevents soil erosion and water runoff.

Important activity. Taj Mahal (Agra), Buddhist stupas, Wildlife sanctuaries (Kaziranga) attract tourists.

Amazon is the largest river by volume.

Amazon mouth is where it enters Atlantic.

Tributaries join the main river.

Amazon basin drains Brazil, Peru, etc.

Spanish explorers named Amazon (invoked warrior women).

Bromeliads store water in leaves.

Toucan is a bird of the rainforest.

Tapir is an animal of the rainforest.

Anaconda is found in Amazon.

Piranha fish eats flesh.

Manioc (Cassava) acts like potato.

Cash crops: Coffee, Maize, Cocoa.

Development is destroying rainforest.

Topsoil washes away without trees.

Ganga and Brahmaputra originate in Himalayas.

Ghaghra, Son, Chambal are tributaries.

Sundarbans is the world's largest delta.

Population density is persons per sq km.

Mountain density is low.

Plain density is very high.

Silk is produced in Bihar/Assam.

Muga silk belongs to Assam.

Kolkata is on Hooghly river.

Coniferous trees grow in mountains.

Tea is grown in plantations (Assam/Bengal).

Rhino is found in Assam.

Tiger is found in Sundarbans.

Susu is the blind dolphin.

Pollution affects Susu.

River transport is cheap.

Tourism generates employment.

Clean Ganga mission launched in 2014.

Crocodiles found in delta waters.

Deforestation affects rainfall.

Slash and burn is shifting cultivation.

Rainforest has high biodiversity.

Epiphytes grow on trees.

Amazon highway built in 1970.

Indigenous people pushed out.

Global warming affects glacier melt.

Subtropical climate is distinct from tropical.

Monsoon brings rain to India.

Floods are common in Brahmaputra.

Bamboo is used for handicrafts.

Jute is grown in the delta.

Fish and Rice is staple diet in Bengal.

Varanasi is a holy city.

Lucknow is the city of Nawabs.

Trans-Amazon Highway built

Swachh Bharat Mission