Physical Characteristics Human Characteristics
Caption: This map shows elevation levels in India as well as the highest mountain peak, which happens to be Mt. Everest.
Citation: Physical Geography of South Asia. Map/Still. Mr. Sarver's Class Web Pages. Web. 21 Sept. 2015 < http://jb-hdnp.org/Sarver/Maps/WC/wc15_physgeosasiam.jpg > Caption: This map shows India's major rivers and their names.
Citation: India Major Rivers. Map/Still. Maps of India. Web. 21 Sept. 2015 < http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/india-river-map.htm# > |
Caption: This map shows the many languages that are spoken in India and where they are spoken.
Citation: Languages of India. Map/Still. Mr. Sarver's Class Web Pages. Web. 21 Sept. 2015 < http://jb-hdnp.org/Sarver/Maps/WC/wc17_languageindiam.jpg > Caption: I thought this would be a fun map to add. It shows some of the foods that are most used in this India and the foods are used to make the map.
Citation: Food Maps: Map of India. Map/Still. Foodiggity. Web. 21 Sept. 2015 < http://www.foodiggity.com/tag/food-maps/ > |
*Images of Landscape:Human
*Images of Landscape: Physical
*Hover over images to get caption and citation.
Biodiversity & Culture in India
Every person is unique. Everyone has something different to bring to the table. How are we such a diverse species? When I think about diversity I think about people of different skin colors, who speak different languages, who pray (or not) to different gods. There are so many differences within our species. Of course we look alike; we have two arms and two legs each with 5 toes or fingers. However we all think and live differently. Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem and culture is defined as the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. How do these two ideas shape each other? When we take a closer look, biodiversity and culture go hand in hand.
India is the seventh largest country in the world and it’s no surprise that it has a great variety of landforms throughout the country. India has the Himalayan Mountains, the Gangetic river plains, the southern plateau, and the islands of the east coast of the country. Many of the land in India is more than just land; many times land has spiritual connections for the people of India. There are 168 sacred natural sites including 75 sacred forests, 74 sacred groves, 10 water bodies and 9 pastures that are sacred to Indians. (Biodiversity of India. 2015). India contains a great wealth of biological diversity in its forests, its wetlands and in its marine areas. (Biodiversity Profile of India). As India has advanced with the rest of the world it has put species in danger along the way. However India has always taken an initiative into protecting its wildlife. India’s rich history with animals can be traced back to hunter-and- gatherer times. They have always valued and used the land and its offerings wisely.
India has done some great efforts in trying to protect its wildlife and the environment. For instance in some scared pastures there is a limit of how many cows can graze the pasture. This is done to insure that the land is not over grazed and to leave the sacred land for future generations to use. India also participates in many conservation groups and works with them in order to conserve its natural resources. There are many national parks in India and some are labeled as 'outstanding universal value' in order to establish the importance of protecting these parks. The people of India truly care for their biodiversity and it is seen by some of the ideas they have established. Some forests in India are dedicated to deities and exploitation of its resources or trespassing can be punishable by the wrath of a deity. In India biodiversity is scared.
India is rich with culture and it can be seen everywhere in India. It can be seen in the store markets to the colorful garments women wear to the religious statues found all over India. India has people of different races, who speak different languages and practice different religions. Of course it has its most common known religion, Hinduism and many of the religions in India have sacred bonds to the land. Religion in India is very important to the people. India has many religious temples and land that are used for practicing and prayer.
In conclusion we can see the importance that both culture and biodiversity have in India. And both biodiversity and culture shape each other to be what they are today. A land rich in biological life flourishes with culture. The most noticeable connection in biodiversity and culture in India can be seen in the religious practices in many of the religions in India. The land is full with religious temples and land that is used for prayers and offerings to the deities. In India biodiversity and culture go hand in hand.
Resources
Viswanathan, B. (2012, December 5). What are the reasons behind the regional and cultural diversity that prevails in India? Retrieved November 16, 2015, from https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-reasons-behind-the-regional-and-cultural-diversity-that-prevails-in-India
Singh, C. (2010). Culture and Biodiversity Conservation. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://re.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/Culture and Biodiversity.pdf
Monda, P. (n.d.). Different Forms of Diversity in India. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/india-2/essay-on-the-different-forms-of-diversity-in-india/4001/
India: The Land of Mystery and Diversity. (2013, October 3). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://culturalawareness.com/india-land-mystery-diversity/
India Biodiversity Portal. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.indiabiodiversity.org/
Biodiversity of India. (2015). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.biodiversityofindia.org/
Biodiversity Profile of India. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/cesmg/indiabio.html
India is the seventh largest country in the world and it’s no surprise that it has a great variety of landforms throughout the country. India has the Himalayan Mountains, the Gangetic river plains, the southern plateau, and the islands of the east coast of the country. Many of the land in India is more than just land; many times land has spiritual connections for the people of India. There are 168 sacred natural sites including 75 sacred forests, 74 sacred groves, 10 water bodies and 9 pastures that are sacred to Indians. (Biodiversity of India. 2015). India contains a great wealth of biological diversity in its forests, its wetlands and in its marine areas. (Biodiversity Profile of India). As India has advanced with the rest of the world it has put species in danger along the way. However India has always taken an initiative into protecting its wildlife. India’s rich history with animals can be traced back to hunter-and- gatherer times. They have always valued and used the land and its offerings wisely.
India has done some great efforts in trying to protect its wildlife and the environment. For instance in some scared pastures there is a limit of how many cows can graze the pasture. This is done to insure that the land is not over grazed and to leave the sacred land for future generations to use. India also participates in many conservation groups and works with them in order to conserve its natural resources. There are many national parks in India and some are labeled as 'outstanding universal value' in order to establish the importance of protecting these parks. The people of India truly care for their biodiversity and it is seen by some of the ideas they have established. Some forests in India are dedicated to deities and exploitation of its resources or trespassing can be punishable by the wrath of a deity. In India biodiversity is scared.
India is rich with culture and it can be seen everywhere in India. It can be seen in the store markets to the colorful garments women wear to the religious statues found all over India. India has people of different races, who speak different languages and practice different religions. Of course it has its most common known religion, Hinduism and many of the religions in India have sacred bonds to the land. Religion in India is very important to the people. India has many religious temples and land that are used for practicing and prayer.
In conclusion we can see the importance that both culture and biodiversity have in India. And both biodiversity and culture shape each other to be what they are today. A land rich in biological life flourishes with culture. The most noticeable connection in biodiversity and culture in India can be seen in the religious practices in many of the religions in India. The land is full with religious temples and land that is used for prayers and offerings to the deities. In India biodiversity and culture go hand in hand.
Resources
Viswanathan, B. (2012, December 5). What are the reasons behind the regional and cultural diversity that prevails in India? Retrieved November 16, 2015, from https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-reasons-behind-the-regional-and-cultural-diversity-that-prevails-in-India
Singh, C. (2010). Culture and Biodiversity Conservation. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://re.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/Culture and Biodiversity.pdf
Monda, P. (n.d.). Different Forms of Diversity in India. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/india-2/essay-on-the-different-forms-of-diversity-in-india/4001/
India: The Land of Mystery and Diversity. (2013, October 3). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://culturalawareness.com/india-land-mystery-diversity/
India Biodiversity Portal. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.indiabiodiversity.org/
Biodiversity of India. (2015). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.biodiversityofindia.org/
Biodiversity Profile of India. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/cesmg/indiabio.html