Different Types Of Water Bodies 5y1n65

Water bodies are areas of water, both salt and fresh, large and small, which are distinct from one another in various ways. The largest water bodies are oceans, while the smallest are brooks or streams. Smaller accumulations of water, such as puddles or swimming pools are not usually referred to as bodies of water in the geographical sense.

OCEANS

Oceans are large water bodies, made up of salt water. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on earth, covering one-third of the earth’s surface. The Pacific Ocean is followed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean in size. Oceans are important for providing food, through the many fish species that populate the oceans, for air quality and for transport via ships.

SEAS

Seas are smaller bodies of water than oceans, but still large water bodies, partly enclosed by a land mass and connected to an ocean. The largest of the earth’s seas is the South China Sea, which holds hundreds of islands in its waters. The Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea and the Bering Sea are some of the world’s largest seas. Like oceans, seas are a source of food, and are also usually used extensively as transport lanes for ships.

LAKE

A lake is a body of water completely encapsulated by land. When a lake is very large, it is sometimes called a sea, despite not being connected to an ocean, such as the Caspian Sea in central Asia. The Caspian Sea is the World’s largest lake, followed by Lake Superior in the US, Lake Victoria in Africa and Lake Aral in Russia . Lakes can be either salt or freshwater.

RIVER

Rivers are large flowing water bodies that typically end in an ocean or sea. Rivers are freshwater bodies of water that usually originate in mountains or areas of high elevations, and are added to by smaller bodies of water such as creeks or streams, as well as by rainfall. Rivers are historically very important for trade and transportation, and many settlements were built alongside rivers for these reasons. Rivers also provide a source of energy generation. The world’s longest river is the Nile in Egypt, followed by the Amazon River in South America, and China’s Yangtze and Yellow Rivers.

GLACIERS

Glaciers are frozen rivers, which move very slowly. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, glaciers store around 75 percent of the world’s freshwater, which means if they melt, sea levels would rise by up to 230 feet. Glaciers are ancient bodies of water, with some, such as the Arctic Ice Sheet being over 40 million years old.

SOIL

Soil is used for growing crops (only 10% of the earth's surface). It can also be used for shelter. Many tribal people around the world create shelters with the help of soil

WATER The water from rivers is used to generate hydroelectricity. Water is used for drinking (only 0.0007% of earth's water is suitable for drinking. The rest is salt water, water trapped in glaciers, or polluted. Freshwater is used for irrigation of crops. Water bodies such as oceans, lakes, and rivers of the world can be used for transportation. Fishing is a valuable source of food within certain water bodies.

MINERALS Minerals can be defined as naturally occurring substances obtained from the ground. Some examples are coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron, copper, gold, etc. They are also absorbed by plants from the earth's surface, and are transferred to humans through food. Minerals (coal, natural gas, and fossil fuels) are a source of energy. Minerals are used as ingredients to make other materials like iron ore, steel, and petroleum. Petroleum is used to make a variety of by-products like gasoline, plastic, etc. Minerals can be used in its natural form like salt.

VEGETATION

Land is used for farming from which vegetables, grains, and fruits are grown. Land is used for farming from which vegetables, grains, and fruits are grown. Wood from trees is cut and processed to make furniture for homes and to provide for construction materials. Vegetation used for cooking and also as fuel to produce heat for warmth. Clothing - clothes are made from cotton. Plants are used as an ingredient in medicines.

ANIMALS Animals are used as food, and their waste is used as fertilizer for crops. We get fur and hide from animals which are both used for making clothes. Animals are also used for transportation.

Natural resources can further be defined as renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable resources are those that can be produced again, for example, plants and animals, whereas, nonrenewable resources are those which cannot be produced again, for example, fossil fuels. The latter is exhaustible and needs to be carefully utilized to leave enough for future generations. We need to make serious attempts to use natural resources in an efficient manner because in recent years, these resources have depleted as a result of their careless use. The seriousness of the problem can be understood from the words of former American president Theodore Roosevelt, "The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem, it will avail us little to solve all others."

SPACESUIT

A spacesuit is more than clothes astronauts wear in space. The suit is really a small spacecraft. It protects the astronaut from the dangers of being outside in space.