Lessons 5–6 · 2 lessons · P. Musayev, J. Musayev. Geography: Economic and Social Geography of Uzbekistan, Grade 8. Supplemented 6th edition. “Sharq” Publishing and Printing Joint-Stock Company, Main Editorial Office, Tashkent, 2019
5
Natural conditions and natural resources of Uzbekistan
Textbook: pp. 13–14
GoalKnow the difference between natural conditions and natural resources and the kinds of resources.
New words
natural conditions · tabiiy sharoitnatural resources · tabiiy boyliklarnon-renewable resources · tiklanmaydigan boyliklarinexhaustible resources · tugamaydigan boyliklar
Explanation
Natural conditions are the natural features of the place where people live and produce: relief, climate, saline lands, deserts and so on. Natural resources are the gifts of nature that are drawn directly into production and form its raw-material and energy base. Mountain relief, saline soils and gullies make it harder to develop a territory, and in dry years river water decreases; science and technology are reducing this dependence. Resources fall into three groups: non-renewable (minerals such as oil, gas, coal and ores), renewable (water, fertile soil, plants and animals, air) and inexhaustible (solar energy, agro-climatic resources). To use non-renewable resources wisely one must mine deposits completely, avoid damaging the environment, use all valuable substances in the ore, continue geological exploration and apply technology that saves resources.
Worked examples
Once an oil deposit is exhausted it does not form again, so oil is a non-renewable resource.
If seedlings are planted where trees were cut, the trees recover within decades; so plant life is a renewable resource.
Class activity
“Resource cards”: each student draws a random resource (gas, water, soil, sun, gold) and places it in one of the three groups.
Practice
1
The hot, dry climate of the Kyzylkum and its gold deposit: which is a natural condition and which a natural resource? Explain.
The climate is a natural condition (the setting for life and work); the gold deposit is a natural resource because it supplies raw material to production.
2
Give three examples of non-renewable resources.
Oil, natural gas, coal (or gold, copper).
3
Which group does solar energy belong to and why?
The inexhaustible group: it does not diminish with use.
4
Why must fertile soil be protected?
It recovers very slowly and is the basis of crop growing.