Geography Lesson 5

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Major Domains of the Earth

FOUR MAJOR DOMAINS

1. Lithosphere (Land) : solid portion of Earth on which we live


2. Atmosphere (Air) : where gases like O2, N2, CO2 etc are found
3. Hydrosphere (Water) : area covered by water
4. Biosphere (Life forms) : narrow zone where land, water, air exists together; all forms of
life

Lithosphere

 Solid portion of Earth


 Rocks of Earth’s crust, thin layers of soil (nutrients)
 “Lithos”  stone
 2 main divisions of Earth’s surface:
a. Continents: large landmasses
b. Ocean basins: huge water bodies

Continents
 Main landmasses of Earth.
 7 continents.
o Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, Antarctica

Asia
 Largest continent
 Covers about 1/3rd of total land area of Earth
 Eastern Hemisphere
 Tropic of Cancer passes through it
 Separated from Europe by the Ural Mountains on the west
 Combined landmass of Europe and Asia is called “Eurasia”.

Africa
 2nd largest continent
 Equator: runs almost through its middle
 Major part lies in Northern Hemisphere
 Only continent  Tropic of Cancer, Equator and Tropic of Capricorn pass.
 Sahara Desert: world’s largest hot desert
 Nile: world’s longest river
Europe
 Much smaller than Asia ( 2nd smallest continent )
 Lies to west of Asia
 Arctic Circle passes through it
 Bound by water bodies on 3 sides:
o Arctic Ocean  North
o Atlantic Ocean  West
o Mediterranean Sea  South

North America
Narrow strip of land
 3rd largest continent
joining two landmasses
 Linked to South America by “ of Panama”
 Lies in Northern and Western Hemisphere
 North  Arctic Ocean
 West  Pacific Ocean
 East  Atlantic Ocean

South America
 Lies mostly in Southern Hemisphere
 East  Atlantic Ocean
 West  Pacific Ocean
 World’s largest mountain range  The Andes
 World’s largest river  Amazon

Australia
 Smallest continent
 Lies entirely in Southern Hemisphere
 Surrounded on all sides by oceans and seas
 Island continent
 Tropic of Capricorn  runs through the middle
 Original inhabitants  Aborigines

Antarctica
 Completely Southern Hemisphere
 Huge continent
 Located in South Polar region  permanently covered with thick ice (white continent)
 South pole lies almost at its centre
 No permanent settlements
 Research stations of different countres
Hydrosphere

 Sphere of water
 Earth Blue Planet: 71% of Earth covered with water
 Water in all its forms  solids, liquids, gases
 Remaining water (oceans, rivers, lakes)
o Ice (glacier)
o Water vapour (atmosphere)
 About 97% of Earth’s water  oceans (saline)
 Rest of waters

Glaciers, ice
sheets,
Fresh water
 Oceans
o Inter connected
o Always moving
o 3 chief ocean waters movement Waves

Ocean Tides
currents
o 5 major oceans:
a. Pacific Ocean
b. Atlantic Ocean
c. Indian Ocean
d. Southern Ocean
e. Arctic Ocean

Pacific Ocean
- Largest
- Spread over 1/3rd of Earth
- Contains the deepest part of Earth: Mariana Trench
- Surrounded by Asia, Australia, North America and South America

Atlantic Ocean
- 2nd largest
- ‘S’ shaped South Europe Busiest Ocean
America  from the point
Western Eastern of view of
- Side Side commerce
North Asia
America
Southern Ocean
- Encircles the continent of Antarctica

Arctic Ocean
- Located within Arctic Circle
- Surrounds North Pole
- Connected with Pacific Ocean
o By a narrow stretch of shallow water  Bering Strait Narrow passage of
water connecting
two large water
bodies like seas and
oceans

Atmosphere

- Layer of air surrounding the Earth


- Composition
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