A spring is water stream flowing out from a natural opening or a crack in the ground. Springs can be found in the bottom of a valley or near the sides of hills or near any form of rock. They are classified into three categories: seepage, artesian and tubular springs. Seepage springs are small water […]
Any large water-body that is surrounded by land is called a lake. Lakes are generally defined as temporary water-bodies and are one of the most valuable and beautiful natural resources on the Earth. Lakes are found in every environment (mountains, deserts, plains or near seashores) and in all the continents. These vary greatly in length
India is famous for its diverse wildlife, and dense and vast forest-cover. Forests cover the second largest land-share after agriculture, which is about 6,780,000 km2 (about 20.64% of the total land of the country). More than 45,000 plant species and more than 80,000 animal species thrive in the Indian forests. The several types of forests
Rainforests are the region of dense plantation and have a huge variety of flora and fauna. Some of the peculiar plants that possess striking features are given below.
The Monteverde cloud forest of Costa Rica is also known as the fog forest. These are tropical or subtropical evergreen forests. They are popular for 100% humidity and heavy rainfall, which is due to the surrounding clouds and mist. This forest contains short and crooked trees, trunks of which are usually covered with a thick
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo. It is located about 400 km off the south-eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar as an island is a combination of plateaus, coastal plains and beaches. The tropical rainforests of Madagascar lie in the low-elevation, due to
Amazon rainforest is the world’s largest tropical rainforest. It covers around 6,000,000 km2 area of Brazil, which is about 40% of Brazil’s total area. It occupies the drainage basin of the Amazon River (second largest river in the world) and its tributaries in northern South America. This region experiences high rainfall, high humidity and constant
Taiga (boreal) forests, also called the coniferous forests, are located in the north of the mid-latitude forest land. These are thick forests having trees such as spruce, pine, fir, etc. They cover about 9% of the world’s land. These forests have long cold winters and short summers.The world’s largest taiga is located in Russia. It
Temperate forests are the regions experiencing high level of rainfall, humidity and snowfall (between 20-60 inches per year). They are located approximately 25° and 50° latitude in both hemispheres. These forests are known for their wide range of temperatures [from hot in summer (about 30°C) to extremely cold in winter (about –30°C)]. This climatic feature
The Tropical rainforest is a region experiencing constant temperature and heavy rainfall. The climate is mostly hot and humid with daily rainfall and wet surroundings. These forests are covered with lush green trees and plants, which grow very close and form a canopy. Annual rainfall is around 50 to 260 inches. Around 6% of the
The Thar Desert is also known as the Great Indian Desert. The name ‘Thar’ is taken from a regional term Thal, which means dry. Some parts of this desert are located in the state of Rajasthan, north-western India and some in Punjab and Sind region of eastern Pakistan. This desert spreads over 200,000 km2 area.
The Sahara, the great African desert, is located in the Northern part of Africa. On the eastern side of the Sahara, the Red Sea and on the western part, the Atlantic Ocean is located. The northern part of the Sahara Desert is adjoining the Mediterranean Sea, while in the south the ancient, immobile sand-dunes are
Mild deserts are generally found near the tropical regions along the west coasts of continents. These are high-altitude areas where the annual rainfall is less than 250 mm but the temperature is significantly lower than that of hot deserts. The weather of the mild desert is influenced by cooler but dry winds. These types of
The Cancún Underwater Museum is a beautiful museum situated within the ocean waters at the Cancún National Marine Park, in Mexico. With as many as 500 sculptures submerged between three and six metres deep, it was conceptualized to help Nature form coral reefs. Funded by a non-profit organization, this incredible silent world was created by
The Verzasca River is a Swiss mountain river, located in Ticino, Switzerland. A 30-km long mountain river, the Verzasca River is known for its crystal-clear waters and stunning array of coloured rocks. A strong treacherous current and cold-water temperatures do not deter tourists from scuba diving in the river; since the river waters are the