Rainforests are forests characterized by high and continuous rainfall. They cover about 6% of Earth’s surface. Rainforests thrive on every continent except Antarctica. They are Earth’s oldest living ecosystems, with some surviving in their present form for at least 70 million years. Forests like this have extraordinary biodiversity. Estimates vary from 40% to 75% of … Read more
An ice cave is a cave formed within the ice of a glacier (also called glacier caves) or an underground cave that has permanent ice deposits. Glacier caves are generally found in those glaciers where temperatures remain subzero for large parts of the year. They are mostly formed by surficial melting on the glacier surface … Read more
Oasis is a small fertile spot in a desert region, usually having a spring or well. Underground water sources called aquifers supply most oases. These natural springs may rise to the surface naturally, or people may dig in the ground to release the water. Oases vary in size, ranging from about 1 hectare (2.5 acres) … Read more
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is defined as one of the two points where the Earth‘s axis of rotation meets the Earth’s surface (the other being the North Pole, diametrically opposite). It is the southernmost point on the Earth, and defines latitude 90° South. The South … Read more
The North Pole also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole is defined as one of the two points where the Earth‘s axis of rotation meets the Earth’s surface (the other being the South Pole, diametrically opposite). The North Pole is the northernmost point on the Earth, and defines latitude 90° North. … Read more
An orchard is a place where trees or shrubs are planted and maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut producing trees which are generally grown for commercial production. Officially, the definition of an ‘orchard’ is five or more trees together. Examples of orchard fruits are apples, pears, oranges, bananas, and cherries. Examples of orchard … Read more
A prairie is a type of habitat with mostly grasses, but also flowering plants and occasional shrubs or isolated tree. The word “prairie” comes from the French pre´rie (later, prairie), meaning meadow. The term was first applied to the swath of mid-continental North American grassland in the 1600s by French Jesuit missionaries and explorers, because … Read more
Grasses are among the most familiar and important flowering plants. They belong to the botanical family known either as the Poaceae or the Gramineae. There are about 12,000 grass species. They rank among the top five families of flowering plants in terms of the number of species. Grasses are one of the most widely distributed and … Read more
Savanna, also spelled savannah is characterized by a continuous grassy layer, often with trees or shrubs widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of grasses. They are also characterised by seasonal water availability, with the … Read more