COLLECTION

COLLECTION

Human Modification of the Environment

Human Modification of the Environment

For thousands of years, humans have modified the physical environment by clearing land for agriculture or damming streams to store and divert water. As we industrialized, we built factories and power plants. While these modifications directly impact the local environment, they also impact environments farther away due to the interconnectivity of Earth’s systems. For example, when a dam is built, less water flows downstream. This impacts the communities and wildlife located downstream who might depend on that water.

Grades

5 - 8

Subjects

Earth Science, Geology, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography