W. F. Rocheleau
Published: 2016-06-28
Total Pages: 432
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Excerpt from The Geography of Commerce and Industry You have long since learned that the sur land and water face of the earth is composed of land and water and that there is practically three times as much water as land. Probably you have also learned that the land and water are very unequally distributed, the greater part of the land lying north of the Equator and the greater part of the water lying south of it; but you may not have considered the relations which these condi tions sustain to human life, occupations and commerce. Unequal distm_ Of the fourteen hundred million people liv Ing upon the earth about one-half live upon Bunon 0f FE less than one-seventh of its surface. The principal causes for this unequal distribution of life are climate and the condition of the earth's surface. Animals are compelled to live in the regions that produce their food. Man only can live away from the sources of his food supply, because he alone has devised means for transporting what he needs to any locality in which he desires to dwell. Some animals feed upon plants, and some upon other animals. Those animals that furnish food for others, themselves feed upon plants; therefore the animal life of a locality is determined by its plant life, and even man finds it to his advantage to dwell in those portions of the earth where his supply of food is abundant and easily obtained. The most important features of climate are temper climate ature and rainfall. As these are, so are the vegeta tion, animal life and people. In general, the earth is divided climatically into the tropical, temperate and polar regions. The tropical regions are characterized by high temperatures, and in some localities an abundance of rainfall, and in others almost an entire absence of rainfall. Where there is an abundance of rainfall we find the most luxuriant vegetation. The regions best illustrating these condi tions of life are found in the valleys of the Amazon and Kongo Rivers. In the forests of the Amazon the trees grow to an enormous size, and twining and climbing plants and undergrowth form thickets so dense that it is impossible to penetrate them. Here also are myriads of insects of the most gorgeous hues and birds of brilliant plumage. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.