UNIT 5: WORLD LANDSCAPES

ZONE CLIMATE LOCATION TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION RIVERS VEGETATION FAUNA HUMAN BEINGS

HOT EQUATORIAL Near the They are always It’s abundant They are Rainforest: it’s a The rainforest is home Rainforests are
Equator hot. The (more than large rivers dense and evergreen to more than half of almost uninhabited
average annual 2,000 mm a due to the forest. the world's animals. because of the heat
temperature is year) and abundant All types of creatures and humidity.
around 27⁰C. regular all year precipitation. are represented: However, some
No variation round. insects, snakes, native people live by
between monkeys, parrots, hunting and gathering
seasons and day sloths, jaguars… plants.
and night.

TROPICAL Between the They are always It´s abundant They are Tropical rainforest: There are a lot of Most people live on
HUMID equatorial hot. The but lower than large rivers it’s less dense than animals like the coast, plateaus or
climate and average annual 2,000 mm a with the equatorial orangutans, tigers, mountain sides
the tropical temperature is year. There is a irregular rainforest. toucans… because it’s cooler,
dry climate. about 24⁰C. short dry flow. the soil is fertile, and
season and a the vegetation is less
long rainy dense.
season.

TROPICAL Near the They are always There is more They are Savannah: it is a Many herbivores such Most people live on
DRY tropics high. than 250 mm a smaller and huge plain with tall as giraffes, elephants the coast or near the
year. There is a have grass and scattered and zebras, as well as rivers, in rural areas.
long dry season irregular shrubs and trees. carnivores like lions,
and a short flow. hyenas and cheetahs.
rainy season.

DESERT Near the There’s a high It is lower than There are no Plants like cacti that There are animals Desert landscapes are
tropics. thermal 250 mm a year. rivers, only have adapted to dry adapted to dry almost uninhabited,
amplitude wadis, which conditions. Date conditions like camels however, some
 between day are dry palms grow near or scorpions. nomads live in the
(more than almost all oases in moist areas desert, like Tuaregs.
50⁰C) and night the year. of the desert.
(below 0⁰C
sometimes)

ZONE CLIMATE LOCATION TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION RIVERS VEGETATION FAUNA HUMAN BEINGS

T Mediterranean Around the They are very It's not They are Mediterranean forest: it has There are They have changed
Mediterranean high in summer abundant, it short and trees like holm oaks and pine rabbits, the landscape
E and on the west and mild in rains in spring have trees, and shrubs like lavender partridges, deeply: forests have
M coast of the winter. and autumn, irregular and thyme. deer, wild been cut down and
continents. summers are flow. pigs… replaced by
P very dry. farmlands and the
coast has been
E
transformed by
R tourism.

A Chinese In China and on They are very It’s not too They are Chinese forest: it has trees like There are The landscape has
the east coast high in summer abundant. It large with bamboo. animals like been changed. This
T of the and mild in rains more in irregular panda zone is densely
continents. winter. summer. flow. bears. populated.
E
Oceanic On the west They are mild It’s abundant They have Deciduous forest: with trees There are Landscapes have
coast of the all year round and regular. abundant like ash, oak and beech. animals like changed
temperate because of the and regular wolves, considerably.
zones proximity of the flow all year Meadows and moors with deer, Oceanic zones are
ocean. round. shrubs and grass. eagles… densely populated.

Continental In the north of Temperatures It rains more in They are Coniferous forest or taiga: There are This area is thinly
Europe, vary greatly: summer. frozen in with trees like pine and fir. animals like populated.
America and winters are winter and bears,
Asia. extremely cold, their flow Prairies of tall grass grow in reindeers,
 and summers increases in wetter and warmer areas. elks…
are hot. summer Steppes of low grass are found
(snow break) in dry areas.

COLD POLAR Between the Winters are It rains a little There are no Tundra: it is in the areas near There are This area is nearly
polar circles and long and harsh bit, under 250 rivers. the temperate zones, with a animals like, uninhabited (small
the poles. (between -20 mm a year. short summer. It has moss and polar bears, groups of Sami and
and -50⁰C). lichens. The rest of the zone penguins, Inuit in the Arctic,
There aren’t has no vegetation. seals… scientists in the
real summers. Antarctic region)

ALPINE In the highest They are very Abundant all Rivers start Mountains have stepped There are Mountains are
mountain low in winter year round. in mountains vegetation, depending on the animals like sparsely populated.
ranges. and cool in They increase (sources). altitude, the slope and the mountain
summer. They with altitude. wind. goats or
grow colder eagles.
with altitude.