On the right is Gibraltar, an English territory that lies on the southern tip of Spain in a body of water that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. This means it is strategically significant for shipping between Europe and the rest of the world. For this reason, disputes over the territory have resulted in many wars over the last 500 years.
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Transport and trade
Modes of transportat and communication are part of the infrastructure of communities and closely connected to the possible and available trade a community can do. Community infrastructure links people with people, and people with goods and services across geographical space. Therefore, in this part of our unit, we will explore how we are connected through transport and transport routes, which can include road, rail, water and air. Humans came a big way since the beginning of transportation. Here is a quick sum-up: 3500 BC: Wheels are invented and boats with oars 2000 BC: Horses are domesticated and used 1783: Steam engines, hot air balloons invented 1787: Steamboat is invented 1790: Bicycle invented 1814: Steam powered rail locomotive invented 1863: Petrol car (1885 Benz internal engine car) 1867: First motorcycle 1903: First motorised plane – the Wright brothers 1908: First car assembly line – Henry Ford 1908: Hydrofoil boats invented 1926: Liquid propelled rocket invented 1940: Helicopters invented 1947: First supersonic jet plane flight 1964: Bullet train invented 1969: First manned mission to the moon 1970: First jumbo jet 1981: First space shuttle |
This loss of biodiversity is due almost entirely to the impact of just one species – humans. Our use of the Earth’s resources and the changes this use brings to the natural environment are pushing many species to extinction. The five main causes of this are:
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Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause disadvantageous change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. The main three types of pollution are air, water and land pollution.
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