Earth

• 1. THE EARTHS PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

2. CONTINENT ASIAAREA IN SQ. KILOMETERS 44,009,000AFRICA30,246,000NORTH AMERICA24,219,000SOUTH AMERICA17,832,000ANTARTICA14,000,000EUROPE10,443,000AUSTRALIA7,713,300 3. ASIA Being the largest continent in size and population, Asia consists of almost one-third of the worlds land area and is populated by about threefourths of the people in the world. Asia boasts of a wide range of topography, from the frozen Arctic to the hot tropics, and it is also a continent of various cultures, traditions, and religions. 4. The most important economic activity in Asia is agriculture, and most of the working class in the continent engages in agriculture. The chief crops are rice and wheat. Fishing is also a main source of livelihood. 5. Main industries in Asia include food processing, sugar refining, and industries for cars, electronic equipment, steel, ships, and textiles. Tourism also serves as major industry, with the many beautiful spots in the continent. 6. AFRICA Africa consists of more than 50 independent countries, and features forests, deserts and grasslands. Most countries in Africa are not heavily populated, except for Nigeria with a population of over 100 million. 7. Most countries in Africa are underdeveloped except for the Republic of South Africa. The most viable economic activity in the continent is agriculture, which gives employment for the people. 8. NORTH AMERICA This is home to such countries as the United States, Canada, Greenland, and Mexico. This triangular-shaped continent is bordered by the Arctic, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Fertile soil and a good climate make the area favorable to agriculture. 9. The continent leads in manufacturing. Some of its manufactured products are chemical products, motorcars and parts, aircrafts, computers, petroleum, cement, and fertilizer. North America can be considered a one of the most developed continents in the world. 10. SOUTH AMERICA It is found directly below North America. Among the countries in South America are Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Venezuela, which are among the most developed nations in the region. 11. Countries on South America depend on agriculture and mining for their needs as well as for exports. Agriculture provides them with such exports as grains, coffee, sugar, and bananas. Factories provide computers, television sets, and vehicles, as well as furniture, beverages, and shoes. Mining provides them with petroleum, zinc, gold, iron, lead, and copper. 12. Forestry in South America is one of the largest in the world, providing them with products like rubber, mahogany, rosewood, and charcoal. Fishing is also an active industry especially in Chile and Peru. 13. ANTARTICA This is a continent around the South Pole which is covered with ice. Because of the freezing temperature, there are no groups of people that populate the island, but only teams or expeditions of scientists are present. 14. EUROPE Europe is one of the leading continents in in terms of economic development. Although Europe is the second smallest continent, many nations consisting it are considered as economic and political powerhouses. These include Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom, among others. 15. The highly developed economy of the continent is mainly based on manufacturing, and its manufactured products include railways, cars, machinery, steel, computers, electronics, and many other products of todays information age. Mining provides them with oil, iron ore, coal, nickel, silver, and lead. 16. AUSTRALIA This is considered the smallest continent in the world. At the same time, Australia is also a country. Australia lies on the southern part of the world, and is often referred to by the term down under. It is one of the most developed continents and also one of the most progressive countries mainly because of the export of manufactured goods. 17. Australias mechanized farms need only minimal labor force. Because of the raising of sheep, Australia also has a developed wool industry. Minerals that are exported by Australia include gold, lead, zinc, manganese, iron, tin, opal, and silver. 18. Another one of the top industries in Australia is its tourism industry, which continues to grow mainly because of the continents natural beauty, sandy beaches, and unique wildlife, represented by the famous kangaroo. More than a million tourists visit the continent each year. 19. THE PHILIPPINES: ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES 20. The Philippines, as an independent unit and country, has its own environment and resources, which it utilizes for its own subsistence. 21. THE COUNTRYS PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 22. The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of more than 7,100 islands, and is located off the southeast coast of Asia. It has an area of 300,00 sq. km., with three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 23. The climate of the Philippines is generally divided into the dry and wet seasons. Based on the distribution of rainfall, the climate in the country can be classified as follows: Type I: Two pronounced seasons with maximum rain period from June to September and a dry season which lasts from three to seven months. Type II: No dry season with a very pronounced maximum rain period from December to February. 24. Type III: No pronounced maximum rain period with a short dry season lasting only from one to three months. Type IV: Rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. 25. Typhoons usually come from June to December, and it is from July to September when they come most frequently. These typhoons sometimes devastate farmlands and infrastructure, creating a big damage to the economy. 26. APPRECIATING OUR ECONOMY AND RESOURCES 27. A large part of the Philippines consists of fertile plains, and these are made into farmlands, making agriculture a major part of the economy. The leading crops produced in the country are rice, corn, banana, coconuts, mangoes, cassava, sugar cane, pineapples, coffee, and abaca (a kind of hemp). Livestock such as cattle, pigs, goats, and poultry are raised not only in the farm but also in common household backyards. 28. Forests, which cover about half of the country, have thousands of tree types, including mangroves, pines, bamboos, an d mahoganies. From these come timber and fibre used in houses and in making timber, mattresses and upholstery, and baskets and 29. Mineral resources are abundant in the country, and some are even exported. Some of the rich mineral deposits in the Philippines include those of gold, iron, copper, nickel, p latinum, manganese, lead, z inc, and cobalt. 30. The large water surrounding the archipelago have provided it with abundant fishing resources such as sardines, mackerel, tuna, anchovies, and other seafood such as shrimps and shellfish. Fish farming by small businessmen produces milkfish and tilapia. 31. The Philippines is also into manufacturing of certain products and goods, which includes food and beverages, cigars, chemicals, clothing, machinery, refined sugar, wood products, and textiles.