Water bodies are areas of water, both salt and fresh, large and small, which are distinct

from
one another in various ways. The largest water bodies are oceans, while the smallest are
brooks or streams. Smaller accumulations of water, such as puddles or swimming pools are
not usually referred to as bodies of water in the geographical sense.

OCEANS

Oceans are large water bodies, made up of salt water. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean
on earth, covering one-third of the earths surface. The Pacific Ocean is followed by the
Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean in size. Oceans are important for providing food,
through the many fish species that populate the oceans, for air quality and for transport via
ships.

SEAS
Seas are smaller bodies of water than oceans, but still large water bodies, partly enclosed by
a land mass and connected to an ocean. The largest of the earths seas is the South China
Sea, which holds hundreds of islands in its waters. The Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea
and the Bering Sea are some of the worlds largest seas. Like oceans, seas are a source of
food, and are also usually used extensively as transport lanes for ships.

LAKE

A lake is a body of water completely encapsulated by land. When a lake is very large, it is
sometimes called a sea, despite not being connected to an ocean, such as the Caspian Sea
in central Asia. The Caspian Sea is the Worlds largest lake, followed by Lake Superior in the
US, Lake Victoria in Africa and Lake Aral in Russia . Lakes can be either salt or freshwater.

RIVER
Rivers are large flowing water bodies that typically end in an ocean or sea. Rivers are
freshwater bodies of water that usually originate in mountains or areas of high elevations,
and are added to by smaller bodies of water such as creeks or streams, as well as by rainfall.
Rivers are historically very important for trade and transportation, and many settlements
were built alongside rivers for these reasons. Rivers also provide a source of energy
generation. The worlds longest river is the Nile in Egypt, followed by the Amazon River in
South America, and Chinas Yangtze and Yellow Rivers.

GLACIERS

Glaciers are frozen rivers, which move very slowly. According to the National Snow and Ice
Data Center, glaciers store around 75 percent of the worlds freshwater, which means if they
melt, sea levels would rise by up to 230 feet. Glaciers are ancient bodies of water, with
some, such as the Arctic Ice Sheet being over 40 million years old.

SOIL
 Soil is used for growing crops (only 10% of the earth's
surface). It can also be used for shelter.
Many tribal people around the world create shelters
with the help of soil

WATER
The water from rivers is used to generate hydro-
electricity.
Water is used for drinking (only 0.0007% of earth's
water is suitable for drinking. The rest is salt water,
water trapped in glaciers, or polluted.
Freshwater is used for irrigation of crops.
Water bodies such as oceans, lakes, and rivers of the
world can be used for transportation.
Fishing is a valuable source of food within certain
water bodies.

MINERALS
Minerals can be defined as naturally occurring
substances obtained from the ground. Some examples
are coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron, copper, gold,
etc. They are also absorbed by plants from the earth's
surface, and are transferred to humans through food.
Minerals (coal, natural gas, and fossil fuels) are a
source of energy.
Minerals are used as ingredients to make other
materials like iron ore, steel, and petroleum.
Petroleum is used to make a variety of by-products
like gasoline, plastic, etc.
Minerals can be used in its natural form like salt.

VEGETATION
 Land is used for farming from which vegetables,
grains, and fruits are grown.
Land is used for farming from which vegetables,
grains, and fruits are grown.
Wood from trees is cut and processed to make
furniture for homes and to provide for construction
materials.
Vegetation used for cooking and also as fuel to
produce heat for warmth.
Clothing - clothes are made from cotton.
Plants are used as an ingredient in medicines.

ANIMALS

Animals are used as food, and their waste is used as

fertilizer for crops.
We get fur and hide from animals which are both
used for making clothes.
Animals are also used for transportation.

Natural resources can further be defined as renewable and non-renewable resources.

Renewable resources are those that can be produced again, for example, plants and animals,
whereas, nonrenewable resources are those which cannot be produced again, for example,
fossil fuels. The latter is exhaustible and needs to be carefully utilized to leave enough for
future generations.

We need to make serious attempts to use natural resources in an efficient manner because
in recent years, these resources have depleted as a result of their careless use. The
seriousness of the problem can be understood from the words of former American president
Theodore Roosevelt, "The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem.
Unless we solve that problem, it will avail us little to solve all others."

SPACESUIT
A spacesuit is more than clothes astronauts wear in space. The suit is really a small
spacecraft. It protects the astronaut from the dangers of being outside in space.