UNIT 8: RIVERS
Science 5th
I) RIVERS
1. A river’s course and flow
A river is a body of moving water. It starts high in the mountains. It flows into a sea, a
lake or another river.

The course is the route which a river takes.

The flow is the amount of water which a river carries. The flow is greater when
it rains, or if snow melts in the mountains.
2. Lakes and reservoirs
Water can also be found in lakes and reservoirs.

Lakes are large bodies of water surrounded by land.

Reservoirs are artificial lakes. Water from reservoirs is used to irrigate
fields, and for urban consumption. Canals and irrigation channels transport
water away from reservoirs. Reservoirs are also used to produce energy.
3. The watersheds of Spain
Watersheds are areas where all the rivers flow into the same sea. There are three
watersheds in Spain.

The Cantabrian watershed has short, rapid rivers. Their flow is abundant and
regular.
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The Mediterranean watershed covers about one third of Spain. Except for
the Ebro, the rivers are short, and their flow is irregular. They sometimes
overflow when it rains a lot. They are sometimes dry in the summer.

The Atlantic watershed covers more than half of Spain. The flow of these
rivers is abundant and fairly regular, but they carry less water in the summer.
II) CLIMATE
1. Climate
Climate is not the same as weather.
Weather can change in just a few minutes.
Climate is a region’s characteristic temperature, wind and precipitation over a very
long time.
2. The Earth’s climate
The distance of an area from the equator determines
how much heat it gets from the Sun.

Tropical zone: It is very hot all year round
near the equator.

Temperate zone: There are warm summers
and cool winters. In some regions, it is rainy all
year round. In other regions, it is dry and sunny
in the summer.

Polar zone: It is very cold al year round at the North and South Poles.
3. Climate in Spain
There are different types of climate in Spain:

The Atlantic climate: This is the mild climate on the
Cantabrian coast and in Galicia. Rainfall is
abundant all year round.

The Mediterranean climate: This is the climate
near the Mediterranean. Summers are hot, and
winters are mild. Rainfall is light.

The subtropical climate: This is the climate in the
Canary Islands. Its is hot all year round. Rainfall is
limited to a few months of the year.

The continental climate: This is the climate of
central Spain. Summers are hot and winters are
cold. Rainfall is irregular.
III) VEGETATION AND FAUNA
1. Vegetation and fauna
Plant an animal life depend on the climate. Each
climate has its own flora and fauna.
Flora is all the plant life or vegetation in an area.
Fauna is all the animal life in an area.
In rainy areas, such as tropical rainforests there is
abundant vegetation and fauna. IN very dry areas, such
as deserts, there is little vegetation or fauna.
2. Natural preserves
Flora and fauna are affected by many things. The
growth of cities, pollution and the exploitation of our
natural resources all affect animal and plant habitats.
Many animal and plant species disappear, or are in
danger of extinction.
Governments and regional authorities create special
areas where the environment is protected.
In Europe, four important National Parks are the Teide in Spain, Snowdonia in the
United Kingdom, Vanoise in France and Harz in Germany.