Land Cover
The environments that are created by this varied distribution of land and water, the atmosphere that envelops it, and the movement of our planet in the solar system do not fully determine our lives, but rather create opportunities and constraints.
The wide plains of rivers foster agriculture and the construction of roads and settlements, but also harbor the threat of devastating floods. Mountains create barriers for transport, but also have the potential for cheap hydro energy. Some countries have easy access to the oceans, others are landlocked and dependent on their neighbors for the passage of goods and people.