Virginia S Natural Resources

Virginia’s Natural Resources A natural resource is a material found in nature that people use. Natural resources help us meet our needs. There are two kinds of natural resources. The first is a nonrenewable resource. A nonrenewable resource is a material that cannot be replaced after it is used. The second is a renewable resource. A renewable resource is a material that, with careful planning, can be replaced or replenished after use.

Fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources. A fossil fuel is a fuel that is formed in the earth from ancient plant and animal remains. Examples of fossil fuels include coal and oil. In Virginia, the main fossil fuel that we produce is coal. Coal produces electric power when it is heated, and people use electric power in their homes and business every day.

Natural and cultivated forests are a widespread resource in Virginia. Forests provide us with wood resources for building and construction projects as well as paper to write on. Forests are renewable resource, since paper can be recycled, and new trees can be planted to be used again.

Arable (farmable) land is another important resource that Virginia has to offer. Arable land is important, because the land’s rich soil. The soil contains nutrients for crops to grow stronger and healthier. Farmers want to grow strong, healthy crops, so they can sell them and make money.

Since Virginia has many beaches, sand is a resource Virginia produces. Sand can be mixed with cement and mortar to make bricks for building schools and houses. Sand is also used to melt the ice and snow on roads in the winter. Sand is part of the glass making process and is used for making sandpaper.

Virginia has many aggregate resources. Aggregates are rocks. One rock important in Virginia is limestone. Limestone is used to make patios and gravel roads. Limestone is a popular landscaping rock that people use to decorate their gardens and flowerbeds with. Limestone is also one of the ingredients in toothpaste! Granite is another aggregate resource in Virginia. Granite can be used for countertops in people’s kitchens as well as tile, curbing, and in constructing buildings. Virginia also produces a rock called gravel. Gravel is common for driveways and for being packed in bags to prevent erosion from happening.

Virginia is home to a lot of different wildlife. Wildlife is a resource that people use for food. Commonly hunted wildlife in Virginia include: deer, bear, wild turkey, waterfowl, quail, rabbit, and squirrel. There are special hunting seasons in Virginia for each animal to prevent these animals from becoming endangered. Since Virginia borders the Chesapeake Bay and is home to many rivers and lakes, aquatic organism (animals that live in the water) are another natural resource in Virginia. Fish common to Virginia’s waters include: bass, perch, trout, and catfish. Crabs and scallops are also popular seafood found in the Chesapeake Bay that Virginia fishermen catch.

Clean water is an important Virginia natural resource that people desperately need to live for drinking, washing, and generating electricity. Clean water is found in groundwater, reservoirs, freshwater lakes, and rivers.

Directions: Choose the best answer based on the reading that you have highlighted key words in.

A. A natural resource is D. a rock form that contains many fossils in B. A man-made material used to meet our Virginia needs C. material that cannot be replaced after it is I. What is a common fossil fuel found in used Virginia D. a material found in nature that people use A. granite E. a material that, with careful planning, can B. coal be replaced or replenished after use C. oil D. limestone F. A renewable resource is A. A man-made material used to meet our J. What does arable mean? needs A. farmable B. A material that cannot be replaced after it is B. full of air used C. full of sand C. A material found in nature that people use D. usable D. A material that, with careful planning, can be replaced or replenished after use K. What is an aggregate? A. forests G. A nonrenewable resource is B. Natural resources A. A man-made material used to meet our C. rocks needs D. aquatic organisms B. A material that cannot be replaced after it is used L. What is limestone used for? C. A material found in nature that people use A. insulation D. A material that, with careful planning, can B. water filtering systems be replaced or replenished after use C. landscaping rock D. paper products H. A fossil fuel is A. A man-made material used to meet our M. What is granite used for? needs A. insulation B. formed in the earth from ancient plant and B. countertops animal remains C. water filtering systems C. a material that, with careful planning, can D. paper products be replaced or replenished after use