GEO ANNUAL WM

Bund

A low earth wall built along the contour of a field which slows down the run-off of rainwater, preventing soil erosion.

Deforestation

Cutting down of trees and clearing areas of forest.

Gorge

Narrow; steep sided valley.

Irrigation

Transporting water to an area where there is a shortage, usually for growing crops.

Ore

Rock from which useful minerals can be taken.

Reservoir

The artificial lake which is created when a river is dammed.

Salination

The process which increases the amount of salt in the soil.

Soil Erosion

The removal of soil from one area by the wind or water.

Superdam

A large dam over 150m high.

Appropriate Technology

Tools or machines using a suitable level of technology.

Tributary

A smaller river or stream which flows into a larger river.

Carrying capacity

The number of people that an environment can withstand before it is permanently damaged.

Coral Reefs

Corals are tiny marine animals that often have a hard outer shell of limestone.

Ecotourism

Tourist resorts and facilities developed to have the least impact on the environment, usually on a small scale.

Mangrove

Trees that grow on tropical coastlines, where the rivers enter the sea, and are the only trees that can grow in brackish water.

Mass tourism

Where many people visit the same area or resort, often resulting in problems for the environment.

Plantation

A large area of land used to grow one type of crop such as tea, sugar, coffee, cotton, and trees for timber.

Rainforest

Forest that grows near the equator, where there is high rainfall and temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius.

Tourism

The industry that sells holidays and leisure activities.

Conservation

To try to protect the environment from human activities such as poaching, deforestation, or new developments that threaten the natural environment.

Foreign Investment

Money invested in factories or developments in a foreign country.

Inequality

Where some groups of people have more than their fair share.

Manufacturing Industry

Producing goods such as electrical goods, machinery, and cars.

Service Industry

An industry that sells its service.

Smelting

The production of metal by melting the ore and taking out the impurities.

Squatter Settlement

A settlement built by people who live there on land that does not belong to them.