Question.
How are mountains useful to man?
( Chapter 6: Major Landforms of the Earth, Class 6- The Earth: Our Habitat ( GEOGRAPHY), SOCIAL SCIENCE)
Answer.
Mountains are elevated landforms with small & tall summits, broad bases, and steep slopes. For example, the Himalayas mountain.
Mountains are very useful to man. The following are some usefulness of mountain to man;
Water Source:
Mountains act as water storehouses. This stored water from the mountain gradually flows downstream, providing a vital source of freshwater for agriculture, industry, and households in lower elevations. Many rivers are originated from mountains. For example, Indian perennial rivers like Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Yamuna, etc originated from the Himalayas mountain.
Mountains are ideal places for building water reservoirs and multi-purpose projects and hydel energy, that help man in many ways.
Biodiversity:
Mountains often have unique ecosystems with diverse flora and fauna. These ecosystems contribute to global biodiversity and can be sources of new medicines and genetic diversity for crops.
Mountain provide natural habitat for wild plants and animals that provides many economic values to man like food, timber, and medicinal herbs.
Mountains are the natural habitat of many tribal communities.
Mountainous areas often serve as refuges for species threatened by habitat loss at lower elevations.
Tourism:
Mountains are idealistic for tourism. People visit mountains for scenic beauty, river rafting, paragliding, and trekking.
Mountains are popular destinations for outdoor recreation and tourism. People visit mountains for activities like hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and mountaineering, contributing to local economies.
Mineral Resources:
Mountains can contain valuable mineral resources like ores, metals, and gemstones, which are extracted for various industrial and economic purposes.
Hydropower Generation:
The steep terrain of mountains is suitable for hydropower generation. Dams and hydroelectric power plants harness the energy of rivers flowing from mountains to produce electricity.
Cultural and Spiritual Significance:
Many mountainous regions hold cultural and spiritual importance for communities. Mountains are often revered as sacred places and are integral to local traditions and beliefs.
Climate Regulation:
Mountains play a role in climate regulation by influencing regional weather patterns and acting as barriers to air masses. They can also help mitigate the impacts of climate change by storing carbon and regulating temperatures.
Scientific Research:
The mountain provides an ideal site for the telescope and many research activities.
Mountains provide opportunities for scientific research in fields such as geology, climatology, ecology, and glaciology. They help scientists better understand Earth's processes and history.
Agriculture and Forestry:
Mountain slopes and valleys can be used for agriculture and forestry. Terraced farming on mountainsides is common in some regions, enabling food production.
Plantation crops like tea, coffee, and rubber are mostly cultivated in mountain regions.
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