Resource distribution refers to the geographic occurrence or spatial arrangement of resources on earth. In other words, where resources are located. Any particular place may be rich in the resources people desire and poor in others. Low latitudes latitudes close to the equator receive more of the sun's energy and much precipitation, while higher latitudes latitudes closer to the poles receive less of the sun's energy and too little precipitation.
The temperate deciduous forest biome provides a more moderate climate, along with fertile soil, timber, and abundant wildlife.
The plains offer flat landscapes and fertile soil for growing crops, while steep mountains and dry deserts are more challenging. Metallic minerals are most abundant in areas with strong tectonic activity, while fossil fuels are found in rocks formed by deposition sedimentary rocks. These are just a few of the differences in the environment that result from different natural conditions.
As a result, resources are distributed unevenly across the globe. Human settlement and population distribution. People tend to settle and cluster in places that have the resources they need to survive and thrive. The geographic factors that most influence where humans settle are water, soil, vegetation, climate, and landscape. Because South America, Africa, and Australia have fewer of these geographic advantages, they have smaller populations than North America, Europe, and Asia.
Human migration. Large groups of people often migrate move to a place that has the resources they need or want and migrate away from a place that lacks the resources they need. The Trail of Tears , Westward Movement, and the Gold Rush are examples of historical migrations related to the desire for land and mineral resources. Economic activities in a region related to the resources in that region.
Economic activities that are directly related to resources include farming, fishing, ranching, timber processing, oil and gas production, mining, and tourism. Countries may not have the resources that are important to them, but trade enables them to acquire those resources from places that do. Japan is a country with very limited natural resources, and yet is one of the richest countries in Asia.
Sony, Nintendo, Canon, Toyota, Honda, Sharp, Sanyo, Nissan are successful Japanese corporations that make products that are highly-desired in other countries. As a result of trade, Japan has enough wealth to buy the resources it needs.
Conquest, conflict, and war. Many historical and present-day conflicts involve nations trying to control resource-rich territories. For example, the desire for diamond and oil resources has been the root of many armed conflicts in Africa.
Wealth and quality of life. The well-being and wealth of a place are determined by the quality and quantity of goods and services available to people in that place. Instruct students to use symbols to represent the resources on the map and to include a map key. Tell students that they can include as many resources as they think would clearly and logically fit on the map.
When they are finished, have students share their maps with other students. Ask: What types of organizations, agencies, businesses, or people might find these maps useful? The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.
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When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives. Different regions have access to different renewable or nonrenewable natural resources such as freshwater, fossil fuels, fertile soil, or timber based on their geographic location and past geologic processes.
For example, the Great Plains region of the United States is known for its abundance of fertile soil. As a result, its main industry is agriculture. Corn, soybeans, and wheat are globally exported from this region and serve as the main economy.
On the other side of the spectrum, the desert southwestern region of the United States depends on the Central Arizona Project canals to transport water from the Colorado River in order to support agriculture and urban areas. Use these materials to explore the interconnected nature of resources and their distribution. Fossil fuels form from the remains of prehistoric dead animals and plants due to geologic processes. National Geographic Explorer Nzigiyimpa Leonidas defines 'natural resources.
Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content. Photograph courtesy U. Fish and Wildlife Service Natural resources are materials people obtain from Earth that have economic value or are important for human life. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. For example, countries with large forests generally are major exporters of wood, paper, and paper products.
Equitable distribution of resources provides equal rights to all sections of society rich and poor to access these resources. It prevents the division of society and accumulation of resources in the hands of a few persons. It helps to maintain the continuous flow of resources so that everyone can get their share.
This is probably the most significant, single threat that natural resources face. Apart from climate change, the main threat to nature starts with habitat loss. This is the number one threat to the diversity of species and to the healthy functioning of the natural systems we rely on for water, food, materials and more of the things we often take for granted.
Human activity is causing environmental degradation, which is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; and pollution. Our forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we irrigate our crops with. Because nature is free, we often take it for granted and overexploit it. Studies reveal that children are healthier, happier, and perhaps even smarter and more creative when they have a connection to nature.
Nature has positive effects on children with attention deficit disorder, asthma, and obesity, and being in nature relieves stress and improves physical health.
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