NCERT Notes and Solutions for Class 7
Geography
Chapter -1
Environment
Environment –
- It is derived from the French word Environner having meaning neighbourhood.
- The environment is basic life support which provides the air, the water, the food, and the land.
- We can define the environment as surrounding of any living organism which includes biotic and non- biotic components.
Biotic and Non- biotic components-
- Biotic and non-biotic components are the natural environment. Here Biotic components refer to the living organism. Example- Plants, Animals.
- Whereas Abiotic components refer to non-living elements of nature. Example- Land
(i) Natural Environment
(ii) Human-made Environment
(iii) Human
(i) Natural Environment –
- The natural environment includes land, water, air, plants and animals. Various domains of the natural environment are –
(A) Lithosphere -
- It is the hard and solid top-most layer of the earth. It provides us forests, farms, grassland and land for human settlement. It is covered with soil, minerals and rocks.
- It includes landforms such as mountains, plateaus, plains etc.
(B) HYDROSPHERE -
- It comprises of all domains of water and water bodies like lake, river, seas, oceans etc.
(C) Atmosphere -
- It is a thin layer of air that surrounds the earth.
- It protects us from the harmful rays of the sun.
- It consists of gases, dust and water vapour.
(D) Biosphere -
- It is a narrow zone of the earth where land, water and air interact with each other to support life.
(ii) Human-made Environment –
The artificial environment which is made by a human. This includes-
- Buildings
- Park
- Bridges
- Roads
- Industries
- Monuments
(iii) Human Environment –
Every human has the tendency to adopt the natural environment as well as the surrounding. There must be a perfect balance between the natural and human environment. The human environment includes the following domains-
- Individual
- Family
- Community
- Religion
- Educational
- Economic
- Political situations