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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL






              STD VII                                           SUBJECT - GEOGRAPHY
              TOPIC-CH – 8

              Human environment interactions: Tropical and Subtropical region

              NOTES-


                            Subtopic 3- Life in Rainforest



                       People grow their food in small areas after clearing some trees in the forest.
                       Men hunt and fish along the rivers and women take care of the crops.
                       They mainly grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato. They practice “slash and
                         burn agriculture”.
                       The staple food is manioc, also known as cassava that grows under the ground like
                         the potato.
                       They also eat queen ants and egg sacs.

                       Cash crops like coffee, maize and cocoa are also grown.


                       The rainforests provide a lot of wood for the houses. Some families live in thatched
                         houses shaped like beehives. There are other large apartment-like houses called
                         “Maloca” with a steeply slanting roof.

                       In the olden days, the heart of the forest could be reached only by navigating the
                         river. In 1970 the Trans Amazon highway made all parts of the rainforest accessible.
                         Aircraft and helicopters are also used for reaching various places.


                        The developmental activities are leading to the gradual destruction of the
                         biologically diverse rainforests.
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