Page 139 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

iv. Irrigation
Water is needed for irrigating the fields for
growing crops. Rain water and river water
are used to irrigate the crop fields. Extracted
underground water and water supplied through
canal are also used for irrigation.

v. Running industries Fig: 11
Water is also needed for running various types of industries.

vi. Transportation and recreation
Water is needed for transportation. Many
countries carry out their foreign trade by means
of water transportation. Ships are sailed across
seas and oceans to transport goods from one
country to another. Similarly, various water fun
activities like boating, rafting, and swimming can
be enjoyed in water. Fig: 12

Land/Soil
Land is the outer part of the earth. The superficial part of the earth is called crust. The
structure of the land of a place or country is different depending upon the geological
structure, nature and types of rocks and natural formation of land. Soil is formed through
the weathering of rocks, decomposition of plants and animals and other various physical
and chemical processes. It takes long period of time to form the soil through these
processes. Formation of soil largely depends on climate, topographical structure, time,
type and nature of rocks and various biotic activities in that particular place. In some
places, the process of soil formation is quick while in some places it takes hundred and
thousand years. The land of Nepal is divided into three regions on the basis of natural
structure. They are as follows:

Mountain region
The mountain region lies towards the northern
side of Nepal. This region consists of the soil
formed from the sedimentary rock. Mostly sandy
and silt soil is found in this region which is not
fertile for cultivating crops. This region is more Fig: 13
covered with rocks and stones. Crops like potato,
barley etc. are grown in this region.

Hilly region
Hilly region lies in between the mountain region
in the north and the terai region in the south.
The soil of this region is formed of igneous and
sedimentary rocks. It is of mixed type, i.e. the Fig: 14
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 139