1 LANDSCAPES THE CONCEPT OF LANDSCAPE What is a landscape? A landscape is part of the that can be seen at one time from one place. It consists of the that are characteristic of a particular area. The term comes from the Dutch word , the name given to of the countryside in the 16 century. Geographers have borrowed the word from artists. Earth’s surface geographic features landschap paintings th Land in the Netherlands reclamation Natural and cultural landscapes A natural landscape is made up of different , such as mountains, hills, plains and highlands, lakes, streams, soils, and natural vegetation. landforms A desert landscape, for instance, usually indicates soil and few trees, but even desert landscapes can vary: the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert landscape are very different from the landscape of the Mojave Desert of the American Southwest, for instance. A landscape that people have modified is called a . People and the plants they grow, the animals they care for, and the structures they build make it up. Cultural landscapes can be as different as a vast ranch in Argentina or the urban landscape of Tokyo, Japan. sandy deciduous hilly cactus-dotted cultural landscape 1 cattle Human impact on landscape The growth of technology has increased our ability to change a natural landscape. An example of human impact on landscape can be seen along the coastline of the Netherlands . Water from the North Sea was certain areas, revealing the fertile below. and were built to keep water from these areas, now used for farming and other purposes. By studying natural and cultural landscapes, geographers learn how peoples’ activities the land. Their studies may suggest ways that will help us protect the delicate of Earth’s ecosystems. 1 pumped out of soil Ditches dams affect balance WARM UP When do you think it is necessary to modify a landscape? DO Cultural Landscapes Video European Landowners’ Organization - ELO 1 posted by MORE Netherlands comes from nether (“lower”) + lands, the country being very low-lying, with a great part below sea level. 1