Geography: 2006: CBSE: [Delhi]: Set – III

Deterministic approach was followed by F. Ratzel and E.C Semple in the study of human geography. This approach is also known as environmentalism. Two main characteristics of this approach are:

1. According to this approach man is a slave of environmental forces and man is totally influenced by the forces of nature. According to Semple, ‘man is a product of nature’.

2. This approach explains man as an insignificant and helpless creature before the natural forces.

The nature of mining in the world has undergone major changes over time. Some of the major changes are:  

1. In early days of the feudal period, mining was carried on mainly by labour from the prisons and slaves.

2. In the middle ages, mining was considered a noble profession.

3. In modern times, mining is no longer a major employer. Mechanisation and technological advancement has increased the efficiency and thus very less workforce is now required in this kind of activity.

Iron is the most widely used metal in the world because of the following qualities:

1. It is most durable and malleable metal.

2. It is used to produce other alloys, including steel.

3. Iron is hard, brittle, and fairly fusible.

4. Iron is also known for its strength.

The main problems that are related to water resources are:  

1. Problems of Availability: Water resources are in excess in certain regions and deficit in others. The north eastern states of the country have excess water resources. On the other hand, dry areas of Rajasthan face acute shortage of water. Rainfall is concentrated in the short period of rainy season and the major part of the year remains dry.

2. Problems of Utilisation: About 90% of the towns are provided with potable water, and the quality and quantity of water is much below normal. Slums and squatter settlements are practically without any water supply. Rural areas are much worse off with respect to supply of potable water.

3. Problems of Quality: Quality of water is largely deteriorating throughout the country. It has been estimated that about three-fourths of the surface water in India is polluted. Most of the rivers in India are polluted. In fact, the water bodies for long have been treated as dumping grounds.

The three main reasons responsible for the location of sugar mills near the sugarcane producing regions in India are:  

1. Sugarcane is a weight-losing raw material and thus sugar mills are located near the sugarcane producing regions.

2. Sugarcane cannot be stored for long as the loss of sucrose content is inevitable.

3. Also sugarcane cannot be transported to long distances because any increase in transportation cost would raise the cost of production and sugarcane may dry on the way.

10.1 Four major regions of ranching are:

(i)  Pampas in South America

(ii) Steppes in Europe

(iii) Prairies in North America; and

(iv) Downs in Australia.

10.2 Two important activities associated with ranching are:

1. In ranching number of animals in a pasture is kept according to the carrying capacity of the pasture.

2. Rearing of animals in ranching is organized on a scientific basis. The main emphasis is on breeding, genetic improvement, disease control and health care of the animals.  

8.1 Godavari and Krishna are two major east flowing peninsular rivers
8.2 Among these two rivers, Krishna river has higher storage capacity. It is 32.23 bcm
8.3 River Godavari has the higher value of usable water. It is 76 bcm.

The major components of Green Revolution in India are:
1. Irrigation: There has been considerable improvement in irrigation in order to shift the focus of the farmers from the monsoon rainfall to the artificial sources of irrigation as the monsoonal rainfall is very irregular.
 2. High Yielding Variety of Seeds: Production of certain crops such as wheat, jowar and maize increased considerably with the introduction of HYV seeds. But the introduction of HYV seeds of rice, jowar, maize and bajra has been comparatively low.

3. Fertlisers and Mechanisation:

Fertlisers are an integral component of the Green Revolution. Production and consumption of chemical fertlisers increased rapidly ever since the Green Revolution came on the Indian agricultural scene.

9.1 In this diagram St. Lawrence inland water way is shown.
9.2 Ontario is the deepest lake from the sea level and its depth from the sea level is 120 mts.
9.3 Locks in this inland waterway regulate the flow of water as ships have to cross different levels of lakes.