Physical geography facts for kids

A natural arch.

Physical geography is a super interesting part of geography that helps us understand our planet Earth. It's all about studying the natural world around us. Think of it as being a detective for Earth's features and how they work! This includes everything from the air we breathe to the mountains we climb and the oceans we swim in. Physical geography also looks at how these natural things change over time and how they affect where and how people live. For example, not many people live in hot, dry deserts, but lots of big cities are built near large rivers.

What is Physical Geography?

Physical geography is one of the two main types of geography. It focuses on Earth's natural environment. This field is closely connected to geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and how it was formed. Physical geography helps us learn about the processes and patterns that shape our world.

Earth's Main Parts

Physical geography explores several key parts of our planet:

• Atmosphere: This is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. It includes things like weather, clouds, and how the sun's energy warms our planet.
• Hydrosphere: This covers all the water on Earth. It includes oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, and even the water vapor in the air.
• Biosphere: This is where all life exists. It includes plants, animals, and all other living things, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains.
• Landforms: These are the natural shapes and features of Earth's surface. Think of mountains, valleys, plains, and coastlines.

How Physical Geography Affects Us

The natural world has a big impact on human life. Physical geography helps us understand these connections. For instance, the climate of a place (part of the atmosphere) decides what kinds of plants can grow there. The availability of water (hydrosphere) influences where towns and cities are built. The shape of the land (landforms) can affect how we travel or where we build farms. By studying physical geography, we can better understand our environment and how to live with it.

Images for kids

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  NASA true-color image of the Earth's surface and atmosphere.

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  Alexander von Humboldt, who is often called the founding father of physical geography.

See also

In Spanish: Geografía física para niños