How Humans Have Changed the Earth
Straightened River vs. Meander (1/8)
Rivers have been crucial transport routes long before streets and highways were ever built. Straightening out their bends and meanders has made shipping easier, but it has left the surrounding lands more prone to floods. The picture shows the straightened River Mirna in Croatia and the untouched Kaa-Khem River in Siberia, Russia. (Photo: Reuters)
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Straightened River vs. Meander (1/8)
Rivers have been crucial transport routes long before streets and highways were ever built. Straightening out their bends and meanders has made shipping easier, but it has left the surrounding lands more prone to floods. The picture shows the straightened River Mirna in Croatia and the untouched Kaa-Khem River in Siberia, Russia. (Photo: Reuters)
How Humans Have Changed the Earth
Las Vegas vs. Mojave Desert (2/8)
Las Vegas is the American boom town. Built in the middle of the Mojave Desert, one of the hottest and driest places on the continent, "Sin City" is expanding rapidly and sucking up water from hundreds of miles around. The image on the left shows a huge pool in front of a casino as opposed to the original desert landscape (right). (Photos: Shutterstock)
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Las Vegas vs. Mojave Desert (2/8)
Las Vegas is the American boom town. Built in the middle of the Mojave Desert, one of the hottest and driest places on the continent, "Sin City" is expanding rapidly and sucking up water from hundreds of miles around. The image on the left shows a huge pool in front of a casino as opposed to the original desert landscape (right). (Photos: Shutterstock)
How Humans Have Changed the Earth
Alps vs. Mountain Forest (3/8)
Some forms of human land use have been practiced for centuries creating landscapes that most people do not recognize as artificial anymore. Rearing cattle (left) has produced alpine pastures that, under normal circumstances, would be covered with mountain forests (right). (Photos: Shutterstock)
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Alps vs. Mountain Forest (3/8)
Some forms of human land use have been practiced for centuries creating landscapes that most people do not recognize as artificial anymore. Rearing cattle (left) has produced alpine pastures that, under normal circumstances, would be covered with mountain forests (right). (Photos: Shutterstock)
How Humans Have Changed the Earth
Rice Paddy vs. Rainforest (4/8)
Rice is Asia's most important food crop. In 2004, world production amounted to some 600 million tons, most of it grown in Asia. The most common sort of rice is grown submerged in paddies. The picture shows rice paddies in the mountains close to Manila, Philippines (left). In Cambodia, for example, 90 percent of the total agricultural area is used for rice production. Without cultivation, this land would soon be transformed into lush rainforests (right). (Photo: Reuters)
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Rice Paddy vs. Rainforest (4/8)
Rice is Asia's most important food crop. In 2004, world production amounted to some 600 million tons, most of it grown in Asia. The most common sort of rice is grown submerged in paddies. The picture shows rice paddies in the mountains close to Manila, Philippines (left). In Cambodia, for example, 90 percent of the total agricultural area is used for rice production. Without cultivation, this land would soon be transformed into lush rainforests (right). (Photo: Reuters)
How Humans Have Changed the Earth
The Scottish Highlands (5/8)
Before the era of oil and concrete, wood had been the most important fuel and building material. The Romans logged large areas around the Mediterranean, sometimes creating entirely new ecosystems. The Scottish Highlands (left) are another example for such drastic change. Once covered with extensive forests (right: mountain forest in Idaho), they are now known for their bare hills and moorlands (left). (Photos: Reuters/Shutterstock)
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The Scottish Highlands (5/8)
Before the era of oil and concrete, wood had been the most important fuel and building material. The Romans logged large areas around the Mediterranean, sometimes creating entirely new ecosystems. The Scottish Highlands (left) are another example for such drastic change. Once covered with extensive forests (right: mountain forest in Idaho), they are now known for their bare hills and moorlands (left). (Photos: Reuters/Shutterstock)
How Humans Have Changed the Earth
Regrowth (6/8)
The Great Smokey Mountains Natural Park in North Carolina and Tennessee, USA provides an excellent example of nature's capacity to pick up the pieces. Before the mountain range became a natural park during the 1930s, more than two-thirds of the forest was logged and cleared. Little of this destruction is visible to the park's visitors today. (Photos: Reuters/Shutterstock)
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Regrowth (6/8)
The Great Smokey Mountains Natural Park in North Carolina and Tennessee, USA provides an excellent example of nature's capacity to pick up the pieces. Before the mountain range became a natural park during the 1930s, more than two-thirds of the forest was logged and cleared. Little of this destruction is visible to the park's visitors today. (Photos: Reuters/Shutterstock)
How Humans Have Changed the Earth
Invasive Animals (7/8)
Wherever humans went, they brought new species with them. Some came as pets, others to facilitate work and some, like rats, often sneaked in as stowaways.
The picture on the left shows a squirrel in Cape Town's Company Gardens. Alien to the area, the animals were introduced for ornamental purposes around 1900. The endemic Black and White Ruffed Lemur (right) is among the endangered species in South Africa. (Photo: Reuters)
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Invasive Animals (7/8)
Wherever humans went, they brought new species with them. Some came as pets, others to facilitate work and some, like rats, often sneaked in as stowaways.
The picture on the left shows a squirrel in Cape Town's Company Gardens. Alien to the area, the animals were introduced for ornamental purposes around 1900. The endemic Black and White Ruffed Lemur (right) is among the endangered species in South Africa. (Photo: Reuters)
How Humans Have Changed the Earth
Invasive Plants (8/8)
Exotic plants have often been introduced as ornamental plants. While some species would not survive without humans, others have thrived well in new environments.
Kudzu (left image), a vine from Japan, is an extreme example of the latter kind. Introduced in the U.S. in 1876, the plant is now considered a major pest weed that covers and suffocates trees (right) and crops. (Photos: Shutterstock)
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Invasive Plants (8/8)
Exotic plants have often been introduced as ornamental plants. While some species would not survive without humans, others have thrived well in new environments.
Kudzu (left image), a vine from Japan, is an extreme example of the latter kind. Introduced in the U.S. in 1876, the plant is now considered a major pest weed that covers and suffocates trees (right) and crops. (Photos: Shutterstock)
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