Compare the climate of the Amazon Basin and the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin.

1. Life in Amazon Basin:

(i) It is located in South America and extends between the Brazilian Highlands in the south and the Guiana Highlands in the north.

(ii) The soil in this region is made up of fertile alluvium.

(iii) The Amazon Basin is the world’s largest equatorial rainforest and is also known as the Lungs of the Planet Earth.

(iv) The Basin is drained by the river Amazon and its tributaries like Madeira, Rio Negro and Xingu.

2. Amazon Basin - Climate:

(i) It is located in the equatorial region and therefore, experiences hot and wet climates throughout the year.

(ii) The annual rainfall received is $250 \mathrm{cm}$ and it rains almost every day due to high temperature.

3. Amazon Basin - Natural Vegetation and Wildlife:

(i) The dense evergreen tropical rainforest Selva occupies most parts of the Amazon Basin.

(ii) The forests form a thick canopy with creepers, climbers, climbing vines and epiphytes.

(iii) Mahogany, rubber, ebony, rosewood, palm, etc., trees with broad leaves and thick bark are characteristics of the Basin.

(iv) Basin is home to wild animals like monkeys, lizards, bats, fish, birds, etc.

(v) There are more than $2,000$ varieties of fish found here and colourful birds such as hummingbirds, toucans, etc., are also an important part of wildlife.

4. Amazon Basin - People:

(i) Shifting cultivation, hunting, fishing and food-gathering are the main occupations of the people of the Amazon Basin.

(ii) Commercial rubber plantations are also an important part of the occupation.

(iii) Mining has developed where iron ore, copper, gold, bauxite and manganese are also mined.

(iv) The Amazon Basin has seen rapid deforestation in order to provide land for commercial and residential purposes, therefore, resulting in the loss of biodiversity.

5. Life in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin:

(i) The Ganga-Brahmaputra Valley is located in the subtropical regions and is one of the most fertile riverine plains in the world.

(ii) The Basin is drained by the rivers like the Ganga and the Brahmaputra and their tributaries

(iii) The world’s largest delta is formed by the rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna before flowing into the Bay of Bengal in West Bengal.

6. The Ganga- Brahmaputra Basin - Climate:

(i) It experiences a monsoon-type climate and seasonal reversal of winds.

(ii) Annual rainfall received is more than $200 \mathrm{cm}$.

7. The Ganga- Brahmaputra Basin - Natural Vegetation and Wildlife:

(i) The region comprises monsoon deciduous forests and trees like Teak, Sal and Mahua, etc.

(ii) The Delta region is occupied by the Sundari trees—the origin of the name, Sundarbans.

(iii) The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is the world’s largest mangrove forest and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(iv) The large part of forests are cleared due to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation.

(v) The forest is home to wild animals like Elephants, deer, monkeys, etc and a wide variety of fish such as Rohu, Hilsa, etc.

(vi) The Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta is densely covered by mangrove forests and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal Tigers.

(vii) One-horned Rhino is found only in the Brahmaputra plains.

8. The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin - People:

(i) Agriculture is the most important occupation of the people in the Ganga-Brahmaputra valley and various cash crops are also grown.

(ii) Tea Plantations are common in Darjeeling in West Bengal and Assam. 

(iii) Besides agriculture non-farming activities are also practised in the region including poultry, animal rearing and fishing.

(iv) Cottage and small-scale industries have also developed in rural areas.

(v) The government and NGOs are working to maintain the balance between the physical and the biological environment.