NCERT Book Class 6 Geography Major Domains Of The Earth

MAJOR DOMAINS OF THE EARTH

As you have read in the first chapter, the earth is the only planet which has life. Human beings can live here because the life sustaining elements of land, water and air are present on the earth. 

The surface of the earth is a complex zone in which three main components of the environment meet, overlap and interact. The solid portion of the earth on which we live is called the Lithosphere. The gaseous layers that surround the earth, is the Atmosphere, where oxygen, nitrogen, carbondioxide and other gases are found. Water covers a very big area of the earth’s surface and this area is called the Hydrosphere. The Hydrosphere comprises water in all its forms, that is, ice, water and water vapour.

The Biosphere is the narrow zone where we find land, water and air together, which contains all forms of life.

LITHOSPHERE

The solid portion of the earth is called the Lithosphere. It comprises the rocks of the earth’s crust and the thin layers of soil that contain nutrient elements which sustain organisms.

There are two main divisions of the earth’s surface. The large landmasses are known as the continents and the huge water bodies are called the ocean basins. All the oceans of the world are connected with one another. Look at the map of the world (Figure 5.1). Are all the land masses connected with one another? The level of seawater remains the same everywhere. Elevation of land is measured from the level of the sea, which is taken as zero

The highest mountain peak Mt. Everest is 8,848 metres above the sea level. The greatest depth of 11,022 metres is recorded at Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. Could you imagine that depth of sea is much more than the highest point?

Continents

There are seven major continents. These are separated by large water bodies. These continents are – Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica. Look at the map of the world (Figure 5.1) and notice that the greater part of the land mass lies in the Northern Hemisphere.

Asia is the largest continent. It covers about onethird of the total land area of the earth. The continent lies in the Eastern Hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer passes through this continent. Asia is separated from Europe by the Ural mountains on the west (Figure 5.1). The combined landmass of Europe and Asia is called the Eurasia (Europe + Asia).

Europe is much smaller than Asia. The continent lies to the west of Asia. The Arctic Circle passes through it. It is bound by water bodies on three sides. Look at the map of the world and locate it.

Africa is the second largest continent after Asia. The Equator or 00 latitude runs almost through the middle of the continent. A large part of Africa lies in the Northern Hemisphere. Look at the Figure 5.1; you will find that it is the only continent through which the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator and the Tropic of

Capricorn pass.

The Sahara Desert, the world’s largest hot desert, is located in Africa. The continent is bound on all sides by oceans and seas. Look at the world map (Figure 5.1). You will notice that the world’s longest river the Nile, flows through Africa. Notice where the Equator, the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn pass in the map of Africa.

North America is the third largest continent of the world. It is linked to South America by a very narrow strip of land called the Isthmus of Panama. The continent lies completely in the Northern and Western Hemisphere. Three oceans surround this continent.

Can you name these oceans?

EXERCISE

1. Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) What are the four major domains of the earth?

(b) Name the major continents of the earth.

(c) Name the two continents that lie entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.

(d) Name the different layers of atmosphere.

(e) Why is the earth called the ‘blue planet’?

(f) Why is the Northern Hemisphere called the Land Hemisphere?

(g) Why is the Biosphere important for living organisms?

2. Tick the correct answers.

(a) The mountain range that separates Europe from Asia is

(i) the Andes    (ii) the Himalayas    (iii) the Urals

(b) The continent of North America is linked to South America by

(i) Isthmus    (ii) Strait     (iii) Canal

(c) The major constituent of atmosphere by per cent is

(i) Nitrogen    (ii) Oxygen     (iii) Carbon dioxide

(d) The domain of the earth consisting of solid rocks is

(i) the Atmosphere    (ii) the Hydrosphere     (iii) the Lithosphere

(e) Which is the largest continent?

(i) Africa     (ii) Asia   (iii) Australia

Please refer to attached file for NCERT Class 6 Geography Major Domains Of The Earth