1. a River S Course and Flow

UNIT 8: RIVERS Science 5th

I) RIVERS

1. A river’s course and flow A river is a body of moving water. It starts high in the mountains. It flows into a sea, a lake or another river.  The course is the route which a river takes.  The flow is the amount of water which a river carries. The flow is greater when it rains, or if snow melts in the mountains.

2. Lakes and reservoirs Water can also be found in lakes and reservoirs.  Lakes are large bodies of water surrounded by land.  Reservoirs are artificial lakes. Water from reservoirs is used to irrigate fields, and for urban consumption. Canals and irrigation channels transport water away from reservoirs. Reservoirs are also used to produce energy.

3. The watersheds of Spain Watersheds are areas where all the rivers flow into the same sea. There are three watersheds in Spain.  The Cantabrian watershed has short, rapid rivers. Their flow is abundant and regular.  The Mediterranean watershed covers about one third of Spain. Except for the Ebro, the rivers are short, and their flow is irregular. They sometimes overflow when it rains a lot. They are sometimes dry in the summer.  The Atlantic watershed covers more than half of Spain. The flow of these rivers is abundant and fairly regular, but they carry less water in the summer. II) CLIMATE

1. Climate Climate is not the same as weather. Weather can change in just a few minutes. Climate is a region’s characteristic temperature, wind and precipitation over a very long time.

2. The Earth’s climate The distance of an area from the equator determines how much heat it gets from the Sun.  Tropical zone: It is very hot all year round near the equator.  Temperate zone: There are warm summers and cool winters. In some regions, it is rainy all year round. In other regions, it is dry and sunny in the summer.  Polar zone: It is very cold al year round at the North and South Poles.

3. Climate in Spain There are different types of climate in Spain:  The Atlantic climate: This is the mild climate on the Cantabrian coast and in Galicia. Rainfall is abundant all year round.  The Mediterranean climate: This is the climate near the Mediterranean. Summers are hot, and winters are mild. Rainfall is light.  The subtropical climate: This is the climate in the Canary Islands. Its is hot all year round. Rainfall is limited to a few months of the year.  The continental climate: This is the climate of central Spain. Summers are hot and winters are cold. Rainfall is irregular. III) VEGETATION AND FAUNA

1. Vegetation and fauna Plant an animal life depend on the climate. Each climate has its own flora and fauna. Flora is all the plant life or vegetation in an area. Fauna is all the animal life in an area. In rainy areas, such as tropical rainforests there is abundant vegetation and fauna. IN very dry areas, such as deserts, there is little vegetation or fauna.

2. Natural preserves Flora and fauna are affected by many things. The growth of cities, pollution and the exploitation of our natural resources all affect animal and plant habitats. Many animal and plant species disappear, or are in danger of extinction. Governments and regional authorities create special areas where the environment is protected. In Europe, four important National Parks are the Teide in Spain, Snowdonia in the United Kingdom, Vanoise in France and Harz in Germany.