NCERT Class 7 Geography Chapter 8 human environment interactions tropical and subtropical region notes.

Chapter-8: Human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region

These NCERT Class 7 Geography Chapter 8 notes explain how humans interact with nature in different natural regions of the world. The chapter shows that climate and vegetation strongly influence lifestyle, food habits, occupations and settlements.

Human Environment Interactions: The Tropical and the Subtropical Region focuses on two contrasting regions—the Amazon Basin in the tropical zone and the Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin in the subtropical zone. It explains their climate, natural vegetation, wildlife and the way people adapt to their environment.

This chapter helps students understand regional diversity and the close relationship between humans and their natural surroundings.

1. Introduction

  • Different natural regions have different climate, vegetation and human lifestyle.
  • Human life depends strongly on natural conditions.
  • Food habits, clothing and occupations vary from region to region.
  • This chapter explains human–nature interaction in two regions.
  • The tropical region is represented by the Amazon Basin.
  • The subtropical region is represented by the Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin.

2. Tropical region: Amazon Basin

  • The Amazon Basin lies near the Equator between 10°N and 10°S.
  • It is located in South America.
  • It covers countries like Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.
  • The Amazon River flows through this basin.
  • It is the largest river basin in the world.

3. Climate of the Amazon Basin

  • The climate is hot and wet throughout the year.
  • Rainfall occurs almost every day.
  • The region experiences high humidity.
  • Dense forests grow due to heavy rainfall.
  • Transport and settlement are difficult because of thick forests.

4. Natural vegetation of the Amazon Basin

  • The region has tropical evergreen forests.
  • Forests are very dense and difficult to penetrate.
  • Trees are tall and form a thick canopy.
  • Sunlight hardly reaches the forest floor.
  • Important trees include rubber, mahogany and ebony.

5. Wildlife of the Amazon Basin

  • The forests support rich wildlife.
  • Animals like monkeys, sloths and jaguars are common.
  • Colourful birds such as toucans and macaws are found here.
  • Rivers are home to fishes like piranha.
  • Wildlife diversity is very high in this region.

6. Life of people in the Amazon Basin

  • Early people depended on hunting, fishing and gathering.
  • Even today, many tribes follow simple lifestyles.
  • Small-scale agriculture is practised on cleared forest land.
  • Crops like tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato are grown.
  • People live in large houses called Maloca made of bamboo and leaves.

7. Problems of the Amazon Basin

  • Large-scale deforestation is taking place.
  • Mining and road construction are increasing.
  • Forests are being destroyed rapidly.
  • Tribal life and culture are under threat.
  • Environmental imbalance affects the global climate.

8. Subtropical region: Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin

  • The Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin lies in Northern and Eastern India.
  • It also extends into Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
  • The main rivers are Ganga and Brahmaputra.
  • This region is one of the most fertile areas in the world.
  • It supports a very large population.

9. Climate of the Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin

  • Summers are hot and winters are cold.
  • The region receives monsoon rainfall.
  • Rainfall is suitable for agriculture.
  • Seasonal changes are clearly felt.
  • Climate supports dense human settlement.

10. Natural vegetation of the basin

  • The region mainly has tropical deciduous forests.
  • Trees shed leaves during the dry season.
  • Mangrove forests are found in the delta region.
  • The Sundarbans is famous for mangrove vegetation.
  • It is also home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.

11. Wildlife of the Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin

  • The basin supports diverse wildlife.
  • Animals like elephant, tiger and deer are found.
  • The one-horned rhinoceros is found in Assam.
  • Kaziranga is famous for rhinoceros conservation.
  • Rivers support fish like rohu, catla and hilsa.

12. Agriculture in the Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin

  • Rice is the main staple crop of the region.
  • Other crops include wheat, maize and pulses.
  • Fertile alluvial soil supports farming.
  • Tea plantations are common in Assam.
  • Jute is an important crop in West Bengal.

13. Settlements and cities

  • The region has very high population density.
  • Abundant water and fertile soil attract people.
  • Agriculture supports large rural populations.
  • Many big cities have developed in this basin.
  • Important cities include Prayagraj, Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata.

14. Transport and economic activities

  • Rivers are used as inland waterways.
  • Roadways and railways are well developed.
  • Trade and industries have grown rapidly.
  • Transport supports movement of goods and people.
  • Economic activities are highly developed in this region.

15. Comparison between the two basins

  • The Amazon Basin has a hot and wet equatorial climate.
  • The Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin has a monsoon type climate.
  • Vegetation in Amazon is evergreen, while it is deciduous and mangrove in India.
  • Population is sparse in the Amazon Basin.
  • Population is very dense in the Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin.

16. Important keywords

  • Amazon Basin is a tropical rainforest region.
  • Equatorial region has hot and wet climate.
  • Rainforest has dense evergreen vegetation.
  • Maloca is a traditional house in the Amazon region.
  • Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin is a fertile subtropical region.
  • Alluvial soil is highly fertile river-deposited soil.
  • Mangrove forests grow in coastal saline areas.
  • Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest region in India.

Understanding NCERT Class 7 Geography Chapter 8 is important to learn how natural conditions shape human life in different parts of the world. The chapter clearly compares tropical and subtropical regions and explains why population, agriculture and settlements differ from one region to another.

The ideas discussed in Human Environment Interactions: The Tropical and the Subtropical Region help students link geography with human activities and are highly useful for school examinations and foundation-level preparation.

Continue reading NCERT Class 7 Geography Chapter 9 – Life in the Deserts to understand how people adapt to extreme conditions in hot and cold desert regions.

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FAQs

Q1. Which two regions are studied in NCERT Class 7 Geography Chapter 8?
The chapter studies the Amazon Basin and the Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin.

Q2. Why is the Amazon Basin sparsely populated?
Due to hot and wet climate, dense forests and difficult transport conditions.

Q3. Why is the Ganga–Brahmaputra Basin densely populated?
Because of fertile alluvial soil, abundant water and favourable climate for agriculture.

Q4. What type of forests are found in the Amazon Basin?
Tropical evergreen forests are found in the Amazon Basin.

Q5. Why is this chapter important for exams?
It explains regional geography and human–environment interaction, making it important for school exams and foundation-level preparation.

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