Natural regions are areas of Earth's surface that are homogenous in terms of conditions that affect human life, such as climate. Climate is the most important factor influencing vegetation, animal life, and human occupation. The world can be divided into natural regions based on similarities in climate, vegetation, animal life, and human activities. There are five major natural regions defined by climate: equatorial, tropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, and polar. Studying natural regions provides a more logical understanding of global patterns than political units.

1. NATURAL REGIONS
What are natural regions?
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2. Definition
Natural region is an area of earths surface
which is essentially homogenous with
respect to the conditions that effect human
life
-Prof. Herbertson
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3. Natural Regions
• Countries along the equator share a similar kind of
climate
• Hence certain areas in different parts of the world have
almost identical climate, vegetation, animal life and
human occupation.
• Climate is the most important factor influencing
vegetation, soil, animals and mode of human life
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4. Natural Regions
• It is possible to divide the world into a
number of regions on the basis of climate-
areas grouped in each region have
similarities of climate, vegetation, animal life,
human occupation and products.
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5. Advantages of studying natural regions
• Studying fewer climatic regions is far
easier and far more interesting than
studying numerous political units
• A study of this nature is more logical
• Study of natural regions helps in understanding
differences in industrial and commercial development
• Appreciates the natural pattern of trade
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6. Disadvantages of studying natural
regions
• Physical conditions are never fully identical in two widely
separated areas
• Places belonging to a particular natural region need not
have all the conditions in common
• Natural regions are not water tight compartments
• There is no sharp line which divides one region from
another
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7. Disadvantages of studying natural
regions
• Changes from one natural region to another is
often gradual and not abrupt
• Classification based on climate is an
approximation-they have more resemblances
than differences
• Inclusion of an area in one natural region or
another is sometimes debatable
Ex-Sri Lanka is equatorial but can be included in
monsoon region due to high rainfall
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8. Major Natural Regions
There are 5 major regions:
1. Equatorial Region (within 5 degrees)
a) Equatorial Low Land Region or Amazon Type
b) Equatorial High Land Region or Ecuador Type
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9. 2. Tropical Region (within 5-30)
1. Tropical Monsoon – Monsoon Type
2. Tropical Grassland – Sudan Type
3. Tropical Dessert – Sahara Type
4. Tropical Rain Forest – Caribbean Type
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10. 3. Warm Temperate Region
(between 30-45)
a) Warm Temperate West Marginal Region-Mediterranean
Type
b) Warm Temperate East Marginal Region-China Type
c) Warm Temperate Desert Region
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11. 4. Cool Temperate Regions (45-60)
a) Cool Temperate Oceanic Region – West European
Type
b) Cool Temperate East Marginal Region – St Lawrence
Type
c) Cool Temperate Grassland Region – Prairie Type
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12. 5. Cool Temperate and Polar
Regions (> 70 degrees)
a) Coniferous Forests Taiga Type
b) Cold Desserts or Tundra Type
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