Major Natural Regions of the World

What is the meaning of natural region?

A natural region is a basic geographic unit. Usually it is a
region which is distinguished by its common natural features of
geography, geology, and climate.
Scientists divide the Earth’s land into what are called
vegetation regions. These areas have distinct types of plants,
soil, and weather patterns. Vegetation regions can be divided
into five major types: forest, grassland, tundra, desert, and ice
sheet. Climate, soil, the ability of soil to hold water, and the
slope, or angle, of the land all determine what types of plants
will grow in a particular region.

Forest

Forests are areas with trees grouped in a way so their leaves,

or foliage, shade the ground. Forests can be found just about
anywhere trees can grow, from below sea level to high in the
mountains. From tropical rain forests near the Equator to
boreal forests in cold climates close to the Arctic Circle,
different types of forests can be found all over the world.
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Grassland

Grasslands are, as their name suggests, flat and open areas

where grasses are the dominant type of vegetation.
Grasslands can be found on every continent except
Antarctica.
Climate plays a role in the type of grassland you get. In
cool, mild climates, like northwest Europe, grasslands are
dominated by tough vegetation, such as oats, that thrives
all year. Some of these grasses are so tough and hardy that
they are considered weeds.

Tundra

Tundra is an area where tree growth is difficult because of

cold temperatures and short seasons. Vegetation in tundra
is limited to a few shrubs, grasses, and mosses. The ground is
often too cold for plants to set down roots, and without
plants, few animal species can survive.
There are two types of tundra: alpine tundra and arctic
tundra. Alpine tundra is separated from a forest vegetation
region by the tree line, the area beyond which conditions
are too harsh or cold for tree growth. The weather in alpine
tundras is cold, snowy, and windy. Most of the Tibetan
Plateau, the so-called “roof of the world” located in Tibet,
China, and India, is alpine tundra. Animals like mountain
goats live in this vegetation region.
Arctic tundra occurs in the far-northern hemisphere of the
Earth. It has a bare landscape and is frozen for much of the
year.

Desert

Deserts have almost no precipitation, or rainfall. In fact,

deserts are specifically defined as areas with an average
annual precipitation of Compiled
less than
by10 inches per year. Deserts
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usually have really high daytime
Ommentemperatures, low night
time temperatures, and very low humidity.
Some of the major natural regions of the world are as
follows:

1. Equatorial Region

Natural Environment:
The equatorial belt extends roughly between 5°N and 5°S of the
Equator. It has uniformly hot and wet climatic conditions
throughout the year. The annual range of temperature is low,
and seasonal contrasts are at a minimum. The combination of
high temperature and high humidity makes the climate
unfavourable for sustained human effort, but very favourable
for the growth of vegetation.

Economic Base:
The region has red and yellow soils of low fertility as they get
leached by heavy rainfall. The natural vegetation comprises of
dense, lofty equatorial forests (also known as “selvas”)
containing variety of species. The economic importance lies in
their wealth of valuable hardwoods. The tall hardwood forms a
continuous cover at highCompiled
level. There are small plants forming a
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second layer and thick undergrowth
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2. Tropical Grassland (Savanna) Region:
The Amazon Basin of South America and Congo in Zaire are
inhabited by primitive tribes. They sustain their livelihood
through food gathering, fishing and shifting cultivation.

Characteristics:

This region lies in the interior of the continents extending up to

the sea in the west in the tropical belt. It comes under the
influence of equatorial belt of calms during summer and
receives convectional rainfall and it is under the influence of
trade winds during winter which are dry winds and the region
experiences drought. It generally lies between 5°N and 20°S
latitudes. It occurs extensively in Africa, parts of Brazilian
Plateau and Orinoco basin in South America.

Economic Base:

Due to deficiency in water, natural vegetation consists of

savanna or tropical grasslands known as Lianos in Venezuela
and Campos in Southern Brazil. Coarse tall grass grows to a
height of about 3 metres is the typical vegetation. These
tropical grasslands are known as the big game country as
carnivorous animals like Compiled
lion, leopard,
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tiger abound in the
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3. Tropical Deciduous Forest Region:

Characteristics:

This region includes eastern margins of the continents

between 10°N to 30°N and 10°S to 30°S. Rainfall is moderate
except in coastal regions and mountainous tracts. The
summers are hot and rainy while winters are warm and dry.
Parts of region such as India, south East Asia, West Africa and
Northern Australia experience a typical monsoon climate
having seasonal reversal of winds.

Economic Base:

The combination of heat and good rainfall in summer

favours growth of plants. Natural vegetation consists of
tropical forests which are less dense than equatorial forests.
Teak, Rosewood, Mahogany are valuable trees.

Human Adaptation:

The river valleys and delta are densely populated.

Mountainous tracts are forested and yield hardwood timber,
bamboo. Some forests have been cleared for plantations of
tea, coffee, and rubber. Primitive tribes inhabit the
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inaccessible forests. Ommen
4. Tropical Deserts:

Characteristics:

Tropical deserts are located on the western margins of

continents in the Trade Wind belt roughly between 20°
and 30°N and S latitudes and are known as hot or
trade wind deserts. Annual precipitation is generally
less than 25 cm.

Economic Base:

On account of aridity, these regions are almost

destitute of vegetation. Either there is no vegetation, or
it consists of those species of plants which are
physiologically adopted to stand droughts called
Xerophytes. Palm is the most important and
characteristic tree found in these regions. The
characteristic animal is camel which lives on thorny
scrubs.
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5. Mediterranean Region:

Characteristics:

This region lies poleward of the tropical deserts on the western

margin of the continents, roughly between 30° and 40° N and S
latitudes. The summers are hot and dry while winters are mild
and rainy. In summer, trade winds blow from land to sea giving
practically no rain. In winters, this region comes under the
influence of moist westerlies blowing on-shore and bringing
cyclonic rain.

Economic Base:

The natural vegetation consists of short evergreen trees, bushes

and shrubs. The chief trees are oaks, olives and figs. The
cultivation of grains and fruits are the most important
occupations. Large scale production of grapes has led to
production of different varieties of wine. The absence of frost
encourages the production of delicate citrus fruits. The main
crops are wheat, olive, vine etc.

Human Adaptation:

Though crops are cultivated for local consumption, a variety of

citrus fruits are processed and exported in large quantities.
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Hence with fine climate and fertility of soil, shores of
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Mediterranean have long been suited for human occupation
6. Mid-Latitude Deserts (Steppe Lands):

Characteristics:

These deserts are located in the interior plateau and basins in

Asia and North America. They are surrounded by high mountain
regions. Tibet and Gobi are typical examples. The main
characteristic of this region is that it receives scanty rainfall as
the interior location is surrounded by high mountains which
prevent the inflow of moist air. Interior location results in greater
extreme of temperature between summer and winter.

Human Adaptation:

This region is inhabited by pastoral nomads who migrate in

search of pastures. Most parts of Tibet and Gobi deserts have
low population density. In lowlands of central Asia, agricultural
developments, mining and industrial development has also
taken place. These are the regions where transhumance is
practiced. Compiled by Asha
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7. Mid-latitude Grassland Region:

Characteristics:

This region lies in the interior of the continents and therefore

receives low rainfall. The annual range of temperature is high
between warm summer and cold winter. Rainfall occurs as a
result of convectional ascent of air during summer. Owing to
low rainfall and cold winter, trees are generally absent.

Economic Base:

The natural vegetation is predominantly short grasses. These

grasslands are known by different local names such as the
Steppes of Eastern Europe, Prairies of North America, Pampas
of Argentina, and Downs of Australia. The region has fertile
black soils which are rich in organic matter.
Wheat is the most widespread crop cultivated in these
grasslands. USA, Canada, Argentina, and Australia are major
exporters of wheat. Maize is also cultivated in the warmer
parts of the region. Compiled by Asha
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8. The Taiga (coniferous) Region:

Characteristics:

This region occurs as a broad belt in Europe, Asia and North

America between the mid latitude of grassland region in South
and Polar Tundra in the North. The climate is cold and moist. The
region has short warm summer and long cold winter. Rivers
remain frozen and snow covers the ground for many months.
Annual precipitation is moderate in amount with maximum
during summer. Coniferous forests occur and contain softwood
trees like oak, birch and maple.

Economic Base:

Lumbering is the main occupation of people in areas which are

easily accessible. Hunting of fur bearing animals like musk-rat,
ermine and silver fox and fishing are other economic activities.
While lumbering is common during winter, fishing is practised in
the short summer season, when the snow cover melts. Short
growing season does not favour agriculture on large scale.

Human Adaptation:

The population is sparse and consists mostly of native tribes. Life is

primitive and hard. Fish is the chief food and clothing is made
from fur. The simple log hut is one of the most typical forest
dwellings. A small numberCompiled by Asha
of Russian
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colonists are settled in few
towns and along river valleys.
9. Polar Lowlands (Tundra)

Characteristics:

The vast lowlands, lying along the shores of Arctic Ocean, where
ground is frozen for the greater part of the year are known as
Tundra’s. They are low-lying cold deserts between the regions of
eternal snow and ice in north and coniferous in the south. They
are found in north of Asia as well as in Canada and Europe
where they are known as Barren lands. The region has long
severe cold winter and a short cool summer.

Economic Base:

People are nomadic, and hunting and fishing are their chief
occupations. Furs and skins are the chief products and articles of
trade in this region. Economically, these areas do not have a
great value.

Human Adaptation:

The population is extremely sparse. There are scattered tribes of

Lapps, Finns. Life for them is a constant struggle against nature.
Animals are fairly redundant. They provide food, covering,
clothing and are valuable for furs and feathers.
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