Life in the Amazon Basin

Renuka was excited. Shrikant Uncle was home after a gap of nearly four months. He was a wildlife photographer and traveled widely. Renuka’s interest in wildlife and forests began at an early age when her uncle introduced her to books on nature. Pictures of distant lands and people who lived there always fascinated her.

Introduction

The Amazon Basin is one of the most ecologically diverse regions on the planet. Situated close to the equator, it is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, as well as indigenous communities. Let’s explore the various aspects of life in the Amazon Basin.

Basic Needs

“In these pictures, Renuka, you can see people from different parts of the world – some from dry deserts, some from frozen lands, and some from hot wet rainforests.” “They look so different from me,” observed Renuka. “They may look different, but they share the same basic needs of life – food, clothing, and shelter,” explained Shrikant Uncle. “Their children do the same things as you probably do, play games, quarrel sometimes and then make-up, sing, dance, and help the families with various things that need to be done. They live closer to nature and very early in their lives have learned to care for nature. They learn how to catch fish and how to collect material from the forests.”

Glossary

• Condensation: The process by which water vapor in the air is converted into liquid water.
• Precipitation: The deposition of moisture from the atmosphere in the form of rain, snow, hail, or sleet.
• Runoff: The flow of water over the surface of the ground into rivers, lakes, or the sea.
• Evaporation: The process by which water is converted from liquid to vapor and released into the atmosphere.

Water Cycle

The Amazon Basin is part of the water cycle, a natural process that continually changes the form of water and circulates it between oceans, the atmosphere, and land. The sun’s heat causes evaporation of water into vapor. When the water vapor cools down, it condenses and forms clouds. From there, it may fall on the land or sea in the form of rain, snow, or sleet.

Terrarium Activity

A terrarium is an artificial enclosure for keeping small houseplants. Making a terrarium allows one to observe the water cycle in action. By spraying the arrangement with water and closing the jar, the water evaporates from the leaves and soil, condenses, and falls back in the form of drops of water.

Distribution of Water Bodies

The major sources of fresh water in the world are rivers, ponds, springs, and glaciers. However, the oceans and seas contain salty water due to a large amount of dissolved salts, mainly sodium chloride or common table salt. Most of the saltwater is not fit for consumption, as it is saline.

Activity

Distribution of fresh water:

• 1 drop = rivers
• 9 spoons = ice caps
• 2 spoons = ground water
• 1/2 spoons = fresh water lakes

This activity demonstrates the distribution of fresh water on Earth. Only a small portion of Earth’s total water is fresh and available for human use, making it a precious resource that should be conserved.

Ocean Circulation

The ocean is in a continuous state of movement, with various phenomena like waves, tides, and currents playing key roles.

Waves

Waves are formed when winds scrape across the ocean surface. During storms, waves can become huge and cause significant destruction. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or underwater landslides can also create tsunamis, which are massive tidal waves that can cause widespread devastation.

Tides

The rhythmic rise and fall of ocean water twice a day is called a tide. Tides are influenced by the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon. High tides help in navigation and fishing, as they raise the water level close to the shores.

Ocean Currents

Ocean currents are streams of water flowing constantly on the ocean surface in definite directions. They may be warm or cold, and they influence temperature conditions in different areas. Warm currents originate near the equator and move towards the poles, while cold currents carry water from polar or higher latitudes to tropical or lower latitudes.

World Water Day

March 22 is celebrated as World Water Day, reinforcing the need to conserve water in different ways.

Summary

The Amazon Basin is not only a region of stunning biodiversity but also a vital part of the Earth’s water cycle. Its complex ecosystems, intertwined with the lives of indigenous communities, illustrate the delicate balance between nature and human existence. As such, understanding and conserving this precious resource is of utmost importance.