Hot Arid and Semi-Arid Environments

4ai) One feature shown in Fig.3 is the mesa which is located on the right hand side of the picture. A mesa is an elevated area of land with a flat top and sides which are usually steep cliffs. A butte is also in the picture, and this is a conspicuous isolated hill with steep (often vertical) sides and a relatively flat and small top. 4aii) The mesa is formed by weathering and erosion of horizontally layered rocks that have been uplifted by tectonic activity. The differences in strength of various rock layers are what give mesas their distinctive shapes. Basal sapping occurs as water flowing around the rocks layers of the mesa erodes the underlying soft shale layers, either as surface runoff from the mesa which leads to slumping and flowage of the shale. As the underlying shale erodes away it can no longer support the overlying cliff layers which collapse and retreat. When the cap rock has caved away to the point where only a little remains, this is known as a butte. b) One great opportunity of hot arid/ semi-arid areas is that these areas have the potential to generate employment, in the local economy. This can either be direct (a waiter in Tunisia) or indirect work (a fisherman supplying seafood to a hotel). Multiplier effects occur because the incomes from hotel bills allow the proprietor to buy food from local farmers, who in turn can purchase goods such as clothes, which create more employment. A second economic opportunity is that foreign currency earnings can be generated. This is particularly beneficial in hot countries with few other resources. Egypt derives 45 per cent of its foreign earnings from tourism. The income can be used to improve infrastructure. One environmental opportunity offered by tourism in hot arid/semi-arid areas is that it preserves natural landscapes from more damaging forms of development or activity. An example of this can be seen at the Kunene National Park in Namibia which protects the black rhino and elephant from poaching. The number of these animals being endangered is rapidly increasing and so national Parks are essential to keep these species living. One way in which this can happen is that hot arid and semi-arid areas attract tourists, which provides jobs and increases employment in the economy and helps the multiplier effect. However this means people will be travelling to and from work via off road vehicles which damage the environment and destroy vegetation. Due to this being short term it is unsustainable and not practical for the environment in the long run. Secondly hot arid and semi-arid areas can be exploited for overgrazing, which causes considerable damage to areas of land where crops may never grow again. Again this is unsustainable and can is not practical.