World’s Major Physiographic and Natural Regions
Geography › World Physical and Regional Geography · Topic 15.8
The world's major physiographic regions are mountains, plateaus, plains and islands, and the world's natural regions are large areas that share the same climate, vegetation and soil. Natural regions include equatorial, tropical monsoon, savanna, hot desert, Mediterranean, steppe, temperate, taiga, tundra and polar regions. Together they show how relief, climate and life are connected and why people live and work differently in each region.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Geography · World Physical and Regional Geography
At a Glance
- Relief regions Mountains, plateaus, plains
- Hot wet Equatorial, forests
- Dry Savanna, steppe, desert
- Cool Taiga, tundra, polar
- Winter rain Mediterranean
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Geography: World Physical and Regional Geography
Where Does It Fit?
This topic brings together relief, climate and vegetation of the world after the individual ranges, rivers, deserts, lakes, straits, canals and islands. It uses World Climate Types (Köppen Classification): Equatorial, Monsoon, Savanna, Desert, Mediterranean, Temperate and Polar Climates, Vegetation Resources: Types of Forests and Their Economic, Ecological and Cultural Significance and Grasslands, Desert Vegetation and Tundra Vegetation for climate and vegetation. Previous topic: Major Islands and Peninsulas of the World. Next topic: Persian Gulf Largest sea Philippine Sea or South China Sea by area…">Major Gulfs, Bays and Seas of the World.
What Are the Physiographic Regions of the World?
Physiography is the study of the physical features of the land. At the broadest level the surface of the Earth is divided into mountains, plateaus, plains and, for oceans, islands and basins.
- Mountains: belts of folded and block uplands, such as the Himalayas and the Andes (see Major Mountain Ranges of the World (Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alps, Atlas, Ural)). They are sources of rivers and minerals and are thinly peopled.
- Plateaus: high, flat-topped lands, such as the Deccan, the Tibetan and the Colorado plateaus, often rich in minerals, as in Plateaus: Formation, Types (Dissected, Volcanic), Economic Significance, Major Plateaus of the World.
- Plains: low, level lands built by rivers or the sea, such as the Indo-Gangetic, the Mississippi and the North China plains, which have the densest farming and population.
- Basins and lowlands: large depressions, such as the Congo and Amazon basins, which hold rivers and forests.
What Are the Natural Regions and Their Features?
| Region | Climate and location | Vegetation and soil | Economy and people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equatorial | Hot and wet all year; 5 degrees north and south; Amazon and Congo basins, Indonesia | Dense evergreen rainforest; leached soils | Shifting cultivation; plantation of rubber and cocoa; timber |
| Tropical monsoon | Hot with a wet summer and a dry winter; India, Bangladesh, South-east Asia | Monsoon deciduous forests; alluvial soils | Rice, jute, tea, dense population |
| Savanna (tropical grassland) | Hot with a wet and a dry season; Africa, Brazilian highlands, northern Australia | Tall grass with scattered trees | Cattle herding, wildlife parks, maize and cotton |
| Hot desert | Very low rain; 20 to 30 degrees north and south (see Major Deserts of the World (Sahara, Gobi, Kalahari, Atacama, Thar) and Their Formation) | Xerophytic scrub | Nomadism, oasis farming, oil |
| Mediterranean | Hot dry summer and mild wet winter; around the Mediterranean, California, central Chile, south-west Australia and Cape Town | Evergreen woodland and scrub; olives, citrus, grapes | Fruit and wine, tourism |
| Steppe (temperate grassland) | Semi-arid, cold winters and warm summers; Eurasian steppes, Prairies, Pampas, Veld, Downs | Short grass, fertile regur) Acidic leached soil Laterite Desert soil Arid soil, sandy Classification…">black soil | Wheat belt, cattle and sheep |
| China type and British type (temperate) | Warm, moist east coasts versus cool, cloudy west coasts of continents | Mixed and deciduous forests | Dense farming and industry |
| Taiga (coniferous forest) | Cold and long winters; Canada, Scandinavia, Siberia | Pine, spruce, fir; podzols | Timber, pulp, fur and few people |
| Tundra | Very cold; Arctic fringes; permafrost | Moss, lichen and dwarf shrubs | Hunting, herding, mining |
| Polar | Ice-covered, below freezing; Antarctica and Greenland | No vegetation | Research stations only |
How Do Regions Help to Understand Geography?
- Climate and vegetation: each natural region is the result of the temperature and rainfall patterns described in World Climate Types (Köppen Classification): Equatorial, Monsoon, Savanna, Desert, Mediterranean, Temperate and Polar Climates, which in turn determine the type of forest or grass in Vegetation Resources: Types of Forests and Their Economic, Ecological and Cultural Significance.
- Human life: hunting and gathering, shifting farming, nomadic herding, commercial grain farming, plantation and industrial life follow the regions. The Mediterranean region has fruit farming, the steppes have grain, the taiga has lumbering.
- Latitude and location: in a simple model, regions repeat on the west and the east sides of continents. The Mediterranean, steppe and taiga lie on the west side, and the China type and monsoon on the east. Mountains and ocean currents alter the pattern.
- Change: climate change is shifting boundaries, with deserts spreading and tundra thawing, and forest loss, discussed in Deforestation: Tropical and Temperate Forest Loss, changes land cover.
Boundaries between regions are gradual, and several classification schemes exist, so a region’s limits are approximate.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Match type Climate, plant and people
- Concept Latitude and continent side
- Link Climate and vegetation
What Came Next?
The next topic describes the major gulfs, bays and seas of the world. Next topic: Major Gulfs, Bays and Seas of the World.
Key People and Terms
- Physiography Study of land features
- Natural region Area with uniform climate and vegetation
- Pampas Temperate grassland of Argentina
- Veld Temperate grassland of South Africa
- Permafrost Permanently frozen ground
- Podzol Acidic soil of the taiga
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Equatorial regions are hot and wet all year.
- Mediterranean regions have winter rain.
- Steppe is the temperate grassland.
- Taiga is coniferous forest.
- Tundra has permafrost.
Do Not Confuse With
- Savanna and steppe Tropical versus temperate grassland
- Taiga and tundra Conifers versus moss and lichen
- China type and British type East versus west coast temperate
Memory Hook
Hot and wet gives rain forest; dry winter gives savanna; winter rain, the Mediterranean; cold lands, taiga and tundra.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for the characteristics of natural regions and their link with human activity. These points add depth.
- Cause Temperature and rainfall
- Pattern Latitude and continent side
- People Economy follows region
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Describe the characteristics of the Mediterranean and the equatorial regions and show how climate shapes the economy of each region.”
How to Answer
- Climate Temperature and rainfall.
- Vegetation Forest or woodland.
- Economy Crops and activities.
- Compare Contrast with the other region.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the physiographic regions of the world?
The main physiographic regions of the world are mountains, plateaus and plains, along with basins and islands. Mountains such as the Himalayas are young and high, plateaus such as the Deccan are flat-topped and mineral-rich, and plains such as the Indo-Gangetic plain are fertile and densely populated.
What is a natural region?
A natural region is a large area in which climate, natural vegetation, soil and wildlife are similar. Examples are the equatorial rainforest, savanna, hot desert, Mediterranean, steppe, taiga and tundra regions. Each influences how people farm, settle and earn a living.
Where are Mediterranean regions found?
Mediterranean regions have hot dry summers and mild wet winters, and are found around the Mediterranean Sea, in California, central Chile, south-west Australia and the Cape Town area of South Africa. They lie on the western sides of continents between about 30 and 45 degrees latitude.
What is the difference between taiga and tundra?
Taiga is the belt of coniferous forest of pine, spruce and fir in Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia with long cold winters, while tundra lies further north and has moss, lichen and dwarf shrubs on frozen ground called permafrost. Trees do not grow in tundra because the growing season is too short.
Which natural region is called the temperate grassland?
The steppe is the temperate grassland region, with different local names such as the Prairies of North America, the Pampas of Argentina, the Veld of South Africa and the Downs of Australia. It has fertile black soil and is a great wheat-growing and ranching region.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Mediterranean region receives most of its rain in summer.
It has dry summers and wet winters.
2 The Pampas are the temperate grasslands of Argentina.
A type of steppe.
3 Taiga is the Arctic region of moss and lichen.
That is tundra; taiga is coniferous forest.
4 The equatorial region is hot and wet throughout the year.
Near the equator, with dense rainforest.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under World Physical and Regional Geography. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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