We have learnt from the previous units Which is the continent that lies that at one point of time, all the entirely on the southern hemis- continents that we see today were a phere? single mass of land and due to internal Which are the continents that are forces of the earth it divided and drifted situated only on the northern to form seven continents. hemisphere? Let us learn more about some of the Which are the continents that extend continents on the earth. to both the hemispheres? Continents are extensive masses of land Is there any continent which lies surrounded by oceans. entirely on the polar region? With the help of globes and fig. 5.1 we Which is the temperature zone in can examine how these continents are which this continent is located? distributed on the earth. Which are the oceans surrounding this continent?

Fig. 5.1 Standard - IX

Australia Which is the main latitudinal circle Australia is the smallest continent in the passing through Australia? world. In 1770 the British navigator, Physical Divisions James Cook, landed on the eastern end Australia has mostly a flat landscape. of Australia in a ship. Subsequently, this There are no very high mountains in came to be a place to exile the prisoners Australia. The average height of this of Britain. region is about 300 metres from the By 1850, the news about the vast deposit mean sea level. Only 5% of the continent of gold in Australia came out. This led is 600 metres above sea level. to the migration of a large number of Australia can be divided into 3 main Europeans to Australia. Let us see the physical divisions. geographical features of Australia. • Western Plateau Location • Central Lowlands

Australia is located between 10° South • Eastern Highlands and 44° South latitude and 112° East and Western Plateau 154° East longitude The Western Plateau is about 365 metres Area : 76,86,850 Sq. kilometres above mean sea level. This area is one of the oldest landmasses and is made Capital : Canberra up of resistant rocks. Some deserts are Coastline : 34,218 kilometres

Australia Physical Divisions

1 2

3

2

1. Western Plateau 2. Eastern Highlands 3. Central Lowlands

Fig. 5.2 70 Social Science - II Chapter - 5 concentrated in the middle of this The Murray is 2,574 kilometres long and plateau. Find them out from the atlas. does not dry up in summer. Another Central Lowlands river which is rich in water is the Darling river. The Murray -Darling This physical division can be further basin is a very fertile region in Australia. divided into three. Eastern Highlands They are : They are situated parallel to the eastern 1. Great Artesian Basin coast, 2000 kilometres long and are 2. Eyre Basin arch-shaped. The average height of this place is 900 metres above mean sea 3. Murray - Darling region. level. The eastern side of the Eastern The Great Artesian Basin is the largest Highlands slopes steeply whereas the source of underground water in the western side is not so steep. Blue world. Using the underground water in Mountain Ranges and Australian Alps, this region, agriculture has flourished. are the important mountains of this Eyre Basin is a very important region region. The source of the Murray and of the Central lowlands. The rivers in Darling rivers originate from the this region do not flow into the sea, but Eastern Highlands. These rivers are into the Eyre lake which is about 100 important for the generation of hydro metres below the sea level. electric power in Australia. Two important rivers flowing from the Major Rivers of Australia eastern highlands are the Murray and The longest river in Australia is the the Darling. Murray river. The Murrumbidgee,

Murray River Fig. 5.3

CONTINENTS 71 Standard - IX

Darling, Lachlan, Cooper Creek, Compare this (Table 5.1) to Flinders and Diamantina are the other the seasons in India. What important rivers. differences have you noticed? Why is it so? Discuss in the class. Find out from the atlas the People in Australia celebrate regions through which the Christmas in summer. When do you main rivers of Australia flow. celebrate Christmas and why? Great Barrier Reef There are three main factors that influence the climate of Australia. Made up of coral, the Great Barrier Reef is situated on the north eastern side of • Latitude Australia and is more than 2000 • Position of the mountains. kilometres long. This is an ecosystem of different types of fish and algae. It is one • Nearness to the sea. of the notable tourist spots of the world. In this continent the tropical and the Do these physical features influence the temperate climates are experienced. The climate of Australia? Let us examine. mountains that run parallel to the eastern coast are known as the Eastern Climate ranges. They obstruct the moisture Study from the table (Table 5.1) the laden winds and causes heavy rain on seasons in Australia and the months in the eastern side. The leeward side of the which they fall. range is a rain shadow region. During summer, cyclones are common on the Seasons Months western plateau region. The depressions Summer December, January that form in the region attract the February monsoon winds to Australia and cause Autumn March, April rainfall in the west. May The differences existing in the Winter June, July, August physiographical features and climate present different types of natural Spring September, October vegetation. November Climatic regions and Natural Table 5.1 Vegetation Monsoon region The northern side of Australia

72 Social Science - II Chapter - 5 experiences the monsoon type of Mediterranean region climate. During summer there is heavy The regions on the southern end of rain. When the monsoon winds reaches Australia experience the Mediterranean the interior parts of the continent, type of climate. Perth and Adelaide are humidity decreases and it becomes dry. in this region. In winter, the winds that In winter, that is, in the months of June, blow north west bring a lot of rain in July and August, there is no rain in this this region. Summers are dry and hot. region. You can see temperate forests Orange, grape and wheat grow well in here. Mangrove forests can be found this region. near the sea. In regions where the climate is dry, eucalyptus forests are Tasmania found. The Tasmanian islands are situated on South East Trade Wind Region the southern end of Australia. The northwest winds bring rain throughout On the eastern side of the continent, it the year. On the wetland in the western rains throughout the year. The winds side of Tasmania, pine and peach trees that blow from the southeast all year grow, and on the dry eastern side, round, makes it rain there. On the different types of eucalyptus trees are western side of the Tropic of Capricorn found. rain forests can be found. Life of the people Hot Desert Regions Almost 88% of the people of Australia Hot deserts stretch from the eastern part are the descendants of people who of the Central lowlands to the western migrated from Europe. Today people coast. This is called the Great Australian from all parts of the world have Desert. The average rainfall in a year is migrated to Australia. Agriculture, less than 25 cms. Shrubs and thorny sheep and cattle rearing industry and bushes are the main vegetation. fishing are the main occupations of the Grasslands people. Between the forests and the deserts lie Agriculture the Great Grasslands. The grasslands Most of Australia is desert like or a semi lying on the north of the Tropic of desert. Only 4% of the land can be Capricon is called the Savanna. The farmed. The Murray- Darling basin on grasslands on the southern side are the south eastern side and the south called the Downs. On the grasslands, western side are fertile and wet. So it is eucalyptus and accacia trees can be conducive to farming. The seen. The main occupation of the people underground water is used for all in the Downs is wheat cultivation and sheep rearing.

CONTINENTS 73 Standard - IX

purposes. Wheat, paddy, sugarcane, manufacture of fish products provide corn, barley, tobacco are the main crops. jobs for the people in villages. Banana, papaya, pineapple, grapes, Uncontrolled fishing has proven to be orange, apple are the fruits grown here. a threat to the marine wealth. Sheep Farming Minerals There are vast grasslands in Australia. Australia is a storehouse of different One of the many occupations of the minerals. Coal, iron ore, bauxite, gold, people here is sheep rearing. Australia and petroleum are the main minerals has the largest number of sheep in the found here. Calgoorlie and Coolgardy world. Australia has an important place are famous for their gold mines. in the production and export of wool of the best quality. Cattle farming is also a Industry very important occupation here. Cattle is reared for meat and dairy products.

Calgoorlie gold mine Fig. 5.5

Agro based industries and mineral based industries are well developed in Australia. Cotton and woollen textiles, sugar, dairy products, processed foods, Fig.5.4 leather products, are industries based Fishing on agricultural products. Iron ore smelting, aluminium industry, Australia has one of the biggest fishing ship building, oil extraction and industries of the world. Darwin chemical industries are the industries Harbour is the most important fishing based on minerals. harbour here. Fish processing and

74 Social Science - II Chapter - 5

North America

Fig. 5.6

See the shaded portion in the map given There are many Bays and above (fig 5.6). With the help of the islands in North America. globe and the map, answer the With the help of an atlas find them out and following questions. complete the table. In which hemisphere is North America located? Bays Islands Which are the oceans on the east, Name Location Name Location west and north of North America? (Ocean) (Ocean)

Isthumus

The small piece of land joining two continents is called an isthmus. The Isthmus of Panama joins North and South Name the countries in the America North American continent? Find out with the help of an atlas.

CONTINENTS 75 Standard - IX

North America is the third largest Physical Features continent. It is 24 million sq kilometres. North America can be divided into four It extends from 7°N to 85°N latitude and major physical divisions. They are: 20°W to 179°W longitude. • The . Which are the important latitudinal circles that pass through North • The Eastern highlands. America? • The Central lowlands.

It was while he was travelling to India that • The Western Cordilleras Christopher Columbus came across North and . But it was in Find out the location of these 1507, after the Italian Amerigo Vespucci divisions from the map landed in South America that the name Canadian Shield America came to be. The Canadian Shield is made up of very old, hard rocks. Many small rivers originate here and flow into the Hudson

North America - Physical Divisions

1

2 3 4

1. Canadian Shield 2. Central lowlands

3. Eastern highlands 4. Western Cordilleras

Fig. 5.7 76 Social Science - II Chapter - 5

Bay. There are five famous lakes in this The Western Cordilleras area. They are Lake Superior, Lake This region is made up of many Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and mountain ranges. These ranges extend Lake Ontario. They are known as the from Alaska to Panama and are young Five Great Lakes. fold mountains. The maximum width The river St. Lawrence is an important of this range is 1500 kilometres. The inland waterway of North America. The width decreases towards the north and Canadian Shield is a storehouse of south ends of these ranges. The Rockies minerals like nickel, gold, copper and mountains are situated on the eastern silver. part of these ranges. Cascade Range, the Niagra Waterfall Sierra Nevada and Sierra Madre are some of the other mountain ranges of The Niagra Waterfall is situated on the the region. Mount McKinley in the river Niagra that lies between the United Alaska range is the highest peak (6194 States of America and Canada. It includes metres) in North America. There are three different waterfalls- the Horse shoe, many plateaus in these ranges. Alaska the American and the Bridal Veil. The Plateau, the Columbia Plateau, and the approximate height of this extensive Colorado Plateau are some of them. waterfall is 52 metres. This is the most The rivers in North America play a very famous waterfall in the world. important role in the natural scenery The Eastern Highlands and life of people of this region. The Mississippi is one of the most important The Eastern Highlands are also known rivers in this area. Missouri, Mackenzie, as the . They are Ohio, Rio Grande, St. Lawrence and old fold mountains are also known as Yukon are the other important rivers. the Eastern Highlands. Its average height is 900 metres above mean sea Climate level. The highest peak here is Mount Extending from the Tropical zone to the Mitchell which is 2037 metres high. Frigid zone, the climate of North The Central Lowlands America is varied. You have noticed the location of the A major part of North America lies in Central Lowlands from the map (fig. the temperate zone and a very small 5.7). This is the agricultural zone of part in the Frigid Zone and the Tropics. North America. It stretches 6000 The factors that influence the climate kilometres east to west in the south from are: the Gulf of Mexico in the south to the • Nearness to the ocean Mackenzie river basin in the north. The Missouri and Mississippi rivers • Mountain Ranges provide the southern part of these • Ocean currents plains with rich alluvial deposits and abundant water supply.

CONTINENTS 77 Standard - IX

Find out which are the ocean Cool Temperate Western Margins currents that influence the climate of North America. Prepare notes. This region extends from the north of Climatic Regions and Natural California to Alaska. The warm Alaska Vegetation current that flows through these shores make the summers hot and winters cool. Tundra Region The proximity to the Rocky mountains

This region which includes the Hudson helps in ensuring heavy rainfall in the Bay is situated to the north of the Arctic region. Coniferous forests are mostly circle (66½°N). Severe cold and a long found here. winter is experienced here. The Prairie Grasslands

The Taiga Region This region extends from the south of

Extending from New Foundland in the Taiga, the region between the Great east to Alaska in the west, coniferous Lakes and the Rockies, to the Missouri - forests can be seen. Warm and short Mississippi basin. Short grass is the summers are experienced here. The vegetation seen in this region. To the main occupation here is lumbering and east of100°W meridian, where there is fur trade. high rainfall, the grasslands are extensively cleared for the cultivation of The Temperate East Margin Region wheat, corn and cotton. This area is This region is located to the east of the known as the granary of wheat. great lakes and the Appalachian The Mediterranean Type of Climate mountains. Due to the influence of the Cold Labrador Current in the west, This climate is experienced in central winters are very cold. Rain is California which is located in the experienced here in summer. But in the western coast of North America. This south the summers are comparitively western climatic region lies between hot and winters are mild. This coastal 30°N and 40°N latitudes. It rains here region experiences cyclonic winds like in winter. Fruits like orange and grapes Hurricane and Tornado. grow extensively here.

78 Social Science - II Chapter - 5

Hot Desert intermitent rain are ideal for growing corn. Corn is the main food grain used This region is on the south western part by people of Mexico. But in the United of North America, on the east of the States and Canada, corn is mainly used Rocky mountain range. Summers are as cattle feed. very hot and winters are very cold here. It rains very little in this region and only On the coast of Mexico and West Indies thorny bushes and a variety of grasses where the climate is hot and moist, rice are mainly found here. is cultivated. Cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, coffee, cocoa are the main Tropical Rain Forests cash crops grown here. Other than these, grapes, orange, apple, peach, apricot This forest is found in Central America are also grown on a large scale in and the West Indies. This region is California. characterized by heavy rainfall and high temperature . Dairy Farming Life of the people One of the main occupations of the North American people is dairy Let us see how the physiography and farming. The vast grasslands here is climate of North America affects the life conducive to rearing cattle. In the north of the people. The density of population eastern parts of the United States of in India is 279 People per sq. kilometre America and in the adjacent regions of but that of North America is even less Canada, it is seen on a large scale. In the than 20. dry areas of the Rockies, sheep are Agriculture reared for wool and meat. Pigs for meat and fowl for meat and eggs are reared Only10% of the total area of North on a commercial basis. America is suitable for agriculture. The Central Plains is the main agricultural Fishing area of the continent. Fertile soil, Fishing is the other important availability of water suitable climate, occupation of the people in the region. vast agricultural lands, mechanisation, North America has oceans on three all make this area ideal for the sides. In the shallower areas of the advancement in agriculture. Wheat, Pacific and the Atlantic oceans a lot of corn, oats, barley etc are the major crops. plankton is seen, which makes a North America is a major producer of favourable situation for the availability wheat in the world. Corn is the next of fish. You have heard of the Grand important crop. Warm climate and Banks to the east of New Foundland. The other fishing centres in the Atlantic

CONTINENTS 79 Standard - IX

are St. Pier Bank, Sable Island Bank, and electronics products, computer Browns Bank and Georges Bank. North hardware and software. America holds the third place in the production of fish in the world. What are the geographical Industry factors that have helped North America in industrial development? The large deposits of minerals and ores, Discuss. especially those which are energy Which continent exists as resources, and the availability of continuation of North America? agricultural and forest products have helped America in industrial South America development. The willingness of the Observe the map (fig 5.8). South American people to work hard and their America lies between 12°N to 55°S entrepreneurial inclinations are reasons latitude and 35° W to 81° W longitude. for their flourishing industries. The In terms of area, this is the fourth largest important industries here are iron ore continent. South America has an area of smelting, automobile industry, ship 17.8 million sq kilometre. building, production of agricultural machinery, cotton textiles, woollen Mexico, Central American countries textiles, paper, fertilizer, paint, electrical and South America are together called Latin America.

Fig. 5.8

80 Social Science - II Chapter - 5

What is the name of the Isthmus that The Panama Canal joins North and South America? The Atlantic and the Pacific oceans have Where is the Panama canal been joined by the 77 kilometre long situated? Panama Canal. This was officially opened on August 15, 1914. Thousands of ships How is Panama canal helpful to pass through the Panama Canal annually seafarers? into the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans.

Locate in the atlas Cape Horn which is situated on the southern end of South America. Find out the countries of On which side of South America is South America from the atlas. the Magellan Strait? Which are the landmasses that are separated by it? Physical Features

South America - Physical Division

Guana Highlands 2

Amazon Basin Central Lowlands Brazilian Highlands Mountains 3 2 The Pacific Ocean The Atlantic Ocean Patagonia

Magallan Strait

1. Andes Mountains 2. Eastern Highlands 3. Central Lowlands

Fig. 5.9

CONTINENTS 81 Standard - IX

Look at the map given above fig. 5.9 made up of very old crystalline rocks. and answer the following questions. The highest waterfall in the world, the What are the physical divisions of Angel falls, is in the Guyana Highlands. South America? The Central Lowlands Which is the largest physical Situated between the Andes mountains division in South America? and the Eastern Highlands is the Central Which are the deserts of South Lowlands. This region is composed of America? Are they in the tropical the basins of three great rivers viz. zone? • The basin Andes Mountains • The From the Caribbean Sea in the north to • The La Plata basin ( Consisting of the Cape Horn in the south stretches the Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay 7,250 kilometre long Andes Mountains. rivers) This is the longest mountain chain in Amazon the world and also the second in height. The highest peak here is Mount The Amazon river is the largest in the Aconcagua. (6,960 metres) world and also the biggest river basin. There are several active volcanoes in During the monsoon, this river is almost many parts of these ranges. 190 kilometres wide. As it is very wide, it is not possible to build a bridge across it. Despite being located very close to A major portion of the river passes through the equator, the upper parts of these the equatorial rain forests. peaks are snow covered throughout the year. Why is this so? Climate The small rivers that rise from the Andes You must have understood that most of mountains flow to the east and join the South America is in the southern Amazon river. hemisphere. The following factors affect the climate here. The Eastern Highlands • The size of the continent The Eastern Highlands consist of the Guyana Highlands in the north and the • The presence of the Andes Brazilian Highlands in the south. Not mountains as high as the Andes ranges, they are • Winds • Ocean currents

82 Social Science - II Chapter - 5

Most of South America experiences region receives a lot of rain. On the hot and moist tropical climate. eastern side of this region coffee What are the factors influencing plantations can be seen. this? Gran Chaco region The capital of Ecuador, Quetta, is This region lies between the Brazilian close to the equator but experiences Highlands and the Andes. This region cold weather. Why? does not receive much rain. Find the answers with the help of Pampas the physical and political maps of Pampas are the temperate grasslands of South America. Argentina. Though it is cool throughout Climatic Regions and Natural the year, in summer this region receives Vegetation very little rain. The main occupation of the people of this region is wheat Humid Equatorial climate. cultivation and rearing cattle and sheep. This climate is mainly experienced in Patagonia the Amazon basin. There is not much heat or rain in the regions of Andes This is a temperate desert. It lies on the mountains. But in the Ecuador plateau, eastern side of the Andes mountains. it is cold and there is low rainfall Bushes are the main vegetation. throughout the year. The Amazon basin Andes region experiences high temperature and It extends from north to south on the heavy rainfall throughout the year. In western side of the continent. In this region there are tropical rain forests accordance with the height of the place which grow luxuriantly. These are the vegetation also varies. At the foot called Selvas. The main trees seen here of the mountains, rain forests can be are mahogany and ebony. seen and as we go higher, grasslands Tropical Grasslands or The Savan- and coniferous forests can be seen. nah Pacific Coastlands The Savannah are seen in two regions. This is the region between the Andes North of the equator in the Orinoco mountains and the Pacific ocean. On the basin they are called Llanos and south northern side, evergreen forests and of the equator in the Brazilian highlands swamps can be seen. From the south of they are called Campos. In summer, this

CONTINENTS 83 Standard - IX

this to the north of Chile lies the Cattle Rearing Atacama desert. In central Chile which As South America has vast grass lands, enjoys Mediterranean climate, many cattle rearing has become an important orchards can be seen. West of 40°S occupation. They are reared for meat, latitude, the coastline is not continuous. milk and dairy products. Meat El Nino processing is an important industry. In the dry regions like Argentina and Every 3 to 7 years, during Christmas, the Chile, large scale sheep farming is also Pacific Ocean along the coast of Peru done. heats up. It is the fisher folk who first take notice of this. They named it El Nino. This Fishing phenomenon changes the climate of Peru About 20% of the total fish catch in the and causes heavy rain or drought. world is from South America. The Life of the people coasts of Peru and Chile are some of the main fishing centres of the world. Physiography and climate of South Minerals America affect the life of the people to a great extent. The total population of Many mineral deposits are found in South America is 370 million. The dense South America. , Columbia, forests of the Amazon, the steep slopes Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile are rich in of the Andes, the rugged and rocky oil deposits. Brazil and Peru have iron terrains of Guyana basin, have ore deposits, Peru and Chile have significantly affected the life of the copper deposits; tin deposits are seen people. in Bolivia and bauxite deposits are People are found concentrated in coastal available in Guyana and Brazil. Coal, lands where there is fertile soil, suitable manganese, silver, zinc, gold, platinum, climate, and better transportation mercury are also mined in small facility. Most people have settled down quantities. in villages. The main occupation of Industry more than half of the population is The availability of all these minerals agriculture. Wheat and corn are the have paved the way for industrial main crops. Coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, growth in South America. Iron and Steel, cotton and plantain are also cultivated here.

84 Social Science - II Chapter - 5 cotton textiles, woollen textiles, sugar, • Minerals food processing, oil refining, chemicals, • Tourism leather, automobile are the major industries. With the help of the atlas, fill the table given below with details regarding the Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, physical divisions to which the towns Peru and Chile are the main industrial mentioned belong. zones. Town Physical Divisions Nusa Follow up Activities... Brum • Prepare a magazine on the continents Albany of Australia, North America and South America. Canberra Points to be included Horsham • Countries included in the continents • Are the conditions that influence the climate of the continents of Australia, • Their capitals North America and South America • Currency the same? Analyse and arrive at a • Language spoken conclusion. • Crops • Industry

CONTINENTS 85