The physical features of the natural environment are the various landforms, bodies of water, and atmospheric conditions that give each place its unique characteristics.
Landforms
- Mountains: Elevated landmasses rising significantly above the surrounding terrain. Examples include the Himalayas and the Andes.
- Hills: Smaller than mountains, typically with a rounded shape.
- Lowlands: Flat or gently rolling areas, such as plains and valleys. These areas are often found along coastlines or between mountain ranges.
Water Bodies
- Seas: Large bodies of salt water, often connected to oceans. For example, the Mediterranean Sea.
- Oceans: The largest bodies of water on Earth, covering vast areas and separated by continents. The Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Oceans.
Atmospheric Conditions
- Weather Systems: Short-term conditions including temperature, precipitation, wind, and humidity. These conditions can change rapidly.
- Climate: Long-term patterns of weather in a specific region. This includes average temperature, rainfall, and seasonal changes.
These physical features, as outlined in the reference, "Natural features of the Earth-the mountains, hills, lowlands and other land forms, the seas, oceans, weather systems and climate give places their distinctive character", all contribute to the overall character of a location. They interact with each other to form the diverse natural environments we see across the globe. For example:
- Mountains can influence rainfall patterns.
- Oceans affect coastal climates.
- Lowlands often support agriculture.
| Physical Feature | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Mountains | Elevated landforms | Himalayas, Andes, Rockies |
| Hills | Smaller elevated landforms, typically rounded | Cotswolds, Scottish Borders |
| Lowlands | Flat or gently rolling land areas | Amazon Basin, Great Plains |
| Seas | Large bodies of saltwater | Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean Sea |
| Oceans | The largest bodies of water | Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean |
| Weather Systems | Short-term atmospheric conditions | Rain storms, hurricanes, heat waves |
| Climate | Long-term weather patterns of a region | Tropical, Temperate, Polar |
Understanding these natural features is important for appreciating the complexity of the Earth's systems and the variations in natural environments.
