Land, also called dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial floor of Earth now not submerged
via the ocean or every other body of water. It makes up 29% of Earth's floor and includes all
continents and islands. Earth's land surface is nearly entirely included by using regolith, a layer of
rock, soil, and minerals that bureaucracy the outer a part of the crust. Land plays essential roles in
Earth's climate machine and is worried within the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and water cycle. One
1/3 of land is covered in bushes, every other third is used for agriculture, and 10% is included in
everlasting snow and glaciers.
Land terrain varies substantially and includes mountains, deserts, plains, plateaus, glaciers, and
different landforms. In bodily geology, the land is divided into two most important classes: mountain
ranges and comparatively flat interiors referred to as cratons. Both are shaped over millions of years
via plate tectonics. Streams – a first-rate part of Earth's water cycle – shape the panorama, carve
rocks, transport sediments, and top off groundwater. At high elevations or latitudes, snow is
compacted and recrystallized over hundreds or hundreds of years to shape glaciers, which can be so
heavy that they warp the Earth's crust. About 30 percentage of land has a dry weather, because of
dropping more water via evaporation than it profits from precipitation. Since warm air rises, this
generates winds, even though the Earth's rotation and uneven sun distribution also play a part.
Land is commonly defined as the solid, dry surface of the Earth.[1] The phrase land can also
collectively refer to land cowl, rivers, shallow lakes, natural assets, non-marine fauna and plants
(biosphere), the decrease portions of the surroundings (troposphere), groundwater reserves, and
the bodily effects of human interest on land, including architecture and agriculture.[2] Even though
saturated land, or dust, is commonplace far from the sea, the shoreline is referred to as wherein dry
land begins for all people in a body of water.[3]
Though modern terrestrial vegetation and animals evolved from aquatic creatures, Earth's first
cellular life probable originated on land. Survival on land relies upon on clean water from rivers,
streams, lakes, and glaciers, which represent most effective three percent of the water on Earth. The
substantial majority of human hobby for the duration of history has came about in land areas which
can be habitable and guide agriculture and various natural assets. In latest decades, scientists and
policymakers have emphasized the want to control land and its biosphere greater sustainably,
appreciably via restoring degraded soil, preserving biodiversity, defensive endangered species, and
addressing weather alternate.