Man-Nature Interactions- The Tropical and Subtropical Regions

Life in the Amazon Basin:

• The Amazon River traverses through the equatorial zone near the Equator, between latitudes 10°N and 10°S
• The Amazon basin is formed when several tributaries join the Amazon River. The river basin drains sections of Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Columbia and a small area of Venezuela
• Life in the amazon basin: Men work in activities like fishing and hunting and women tend to the crops and fields. Due to the land’s proximity to the Amazon River, it is very fertile making it ideal for agriculture. The inhabitants who live in the amazon basin often cultivate crops such as pineapple, tapioca, sweet potato, cassava (manioc), coffee, maize and cocoa

Climate: 

• The Amazon Basin runs parallel to the equator and hence it has a hot and humid environment
• Day and night are almost identical in terms of heat and humidity
• It rains almost every day
• The daytime temperatures are pretty high, accompanied by extremely high humidity. At night, the temperature drops somewhat, but the moisture remains constant

Rainforests:

• Due to the heavy rainfall in this area, dense forests flourish. Indeed, the woods are so thick that the lush “roof” of leaves and branches prevents sunlight from reaching the ground
• The earth continues to be black and moist and only shade-tolerant plants thrive in this area. Orchids and bromeliads are some of the parasitic plants present in the Amazon Basin
• The rainforest is densely forested, with an abundance of plants and wildlife. Toucans, hummingbirds and birds of paradise are all found here

People of the Rainforests:

• People of the Rainforests are primarily engaged in cultivating tapioca, pineapple, and sweet potato. A significant diet is manioc, often known as cassava, a root vegetable similar to potato that grows underground. Additionally, the inhabitants consume queen ants and egg sacs. Cash crops such as coffee, maize, and cocoa are also cultivated
• People  live in beehive-shaped thatched dwellings. Other massive apartment-style structures known as “Maloca” with a steeply slanting roof exist

Development activities are gradually destroying ecologically diverse rainforests. It is found that a significant portion of the Amazon rainforest has vanished in previous years. As a result, it is critical to protect these forests to survive life and maintain balance.

Life in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin:

• The Ganga-Brahmaputra basin in India is formed by the tributaries of the rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra
• The basin is located in the subtropical area between latitudes 200°N and 30°N. The region is characterized by monsoon climate
• The Himalayas and the Sundarbans delta are the basin’s prominent landforms
• The soil in the basin is fertile and is mostly composed of Alluvial soil. Agriculture is the primary activity of those who live in areas with flat terrain suitable for cultivation
• The plains have a relatively high population density. Paddy is the primary crop. Wheat, maize, sorghum, gram and millets are also cultivated. Additionally, cash crops such as sugarcane and jute are also grown
• Numerous ox-bow lakes flow through the grasslands and the area is bounded to the north by the Himalayan mountains and foothills.The world famous Sundarbans delta is on the eastern extreme of the basin
• The vegetation cover varies according to landform type. Tropical deciduous trees like teak, sal and peepal flourish on the Ganga and Brahmaputra plains. The Brahmaputra plain is dotted with dense bamboo trees and the delta region is densely forested with mangroves
• The term “vegetation cover” refers to the proportion of soil covered by green vegetation. In the field, vegetation cover may be quantified by determining the proportion of the land covered by existing annual or perennial vegetation cover. Natural vegetation refers to a plant community that has developed organically without human intervention and has been mostly untouched by people over an extended period (also called virgin vegetation). Crops and fruits are grown under cultivation and orchards, which are classified as vegetation cover but not as natural vegetation
• Elephants, tigers, deer and monkeys are commonly found in the region. The Brahmaputra plain is home to the one-horned rhinoceros. The delta region is home to Bengal tigers, crocodiles and alligators