It is an area with similar physical or natural characteristics such as climate, soil, relief, and vegetation.

Natural vegetation

            This is vegetation not planted by man but developed by nature itself. It is also defined as the growth of plants without human intervention.

Types of natural regions

There are three main types of natural regions;

• Tropical region
• Temperate region
• Polar region

1. THE TROPICAL REGION

It is located between 0^o and 30^o north and south of the equator. It is further divided into four regions;

• Tropical or equatorial rainforest
• Tropical grass land or savanna
• Tropical desert

1. The equatorial rainforest

Location; the equatorial rain forest is located between latitudes 0^o and 5^o north and south of the equator.

Examples; the Amazon basin, the Congo basin, etc.

                   Physical characteristics of the equatorial rainforest

• Climate: It is called the equatorial climate with high rainfall of 2000m and temperature of 27^oc.
• Soil: It is called ferrallitic soil, reddish in color and infertile because of Leaching.

          Leaching is the washing away of nutrients from the top soil to the bottom of the soil due to high rainfall.

• Vegetation: It is called equatorial rainforest of SELVA made up of tall and huge trees with evergreen broad leaves. The species here include; Iroko, Ebony, and Mahogany.

               Human characteristics   

• Farming: The main farming type is Subsistence farming. It is the cultivation of crops for consumption only. Other farming types here include; shift cultivation and bush fallowing.

                             Shifting cultivation is when a farmer cultivates a piece of land and after 3 years of harvest, he abandons the land and moves to another land with his belongings.

                               Bush fallowing is when a farmer abandons a land after 3 years of harvest without his belongings.

The main type of commercial harvest here is Plantation agriculture which deals with the cultivation of cash crops such as Banana, rubber, cocao etc

• Forest exploitation: Lumbering is the cutting down of trees to provide timber.

                   Problems in the equatorial rainforest

1. The spread of disease because of harsh climate
2. Infertile soil due to leaching The
3. Poor transport network due to thick forest and heavy rainfall

2. tropical desert

It is located latitude 15^o and 30^o north and south of the equator. The examples include; Sahara, Kalahari, Namid, Thar, Atacama and the Australian desert.

Physical characteristics

• Climate: it is called hot desert climate with high temperature of 30^oc and rainfall of 250mm.
• Soil: it is called Grey Desert soil which is dry, thin with salt content.
• Vegetation: it is called Xerophytes because it can resist bad conditions. The vegetation is scanty with Shrubs like Cacti.

Human activities

• Farming: there are two types of farming namely; Irrigation farming and pastoral farming.

                Irrigation is the artificial supply of water to a dry farm through the constructions of canals. It promotes a rabble farming for crop cultivation.

                Pastoral Nomadism is the rearing of animals such as camels, sheep and goat in the desert.

Problems

• Shortage of water because of low rainfall
• Poor soil, the soil is too dry to support plant growth
• Harsh climate which is dry and hot discourages settlement

2. TEMPERATE REGION

It is located between 30⁰ AND 65⁰ north and south of the equator. It is further divided into warm temperate western margins, warm temperate continentals, cool temperate continentals etc.

The warm temperate continental region

It is located between latitude 40^o and 60^o north and south.

Examples;

• Parries of North America
• Pampas of South America
• Steppes of Europe
• The downs of Australia
• Veldts of South Africa

Physical characteristics

• Climate: it is called the warm temperate continental climate. It has a rainfall of is than 750mm and temperature of 15^oc.
• Soil: the soil is called Chernozems. It is the most fertile soil in the world. It is dark in color and contains humus.
• Vegetation: it is called Temperate grassland with short grasses and the species include; Black-eyed Susan.

B. Human activities

• Farming: it includes extensive commercial and pastoral farming.

                 Cereal farming is the cultivation of grain crops like rice, wheat, maize etc.

                  A cattle ranching is the rearing of cattle in a fence called a ranch for the production of beef.

This area is well developed because of the following;

1. Fertile soil promotes extensive commercial farming
2. Industrialization; they are many manufacturing industries in the region
3. Urbanization; there have been the growth of many towns and cities in the region.

The cool temperate continental region

It is located between latitude 55^o and 20^o north of the equator. Example; Alaska in USA, Sweden in Europe.

Physical characteristics

• Climate: it is called cold continental climate characterized by low temperature and rainfall.
• Soil: it is called Rodpol which is ash grey in color and infertile.
• Vegetation: it is called coniferous forest which has needle shape leaves that are ever green. The forest has a conical shape.

Human activity

The most important human activity is forest exploitation and mining. Forest exploitation includes; deforestation for lumbering and other activities and aforestation.

• The forest is made up of soft wood ad species including; spruce and pines.

• The minerals mined here include; iron ore, gold, oil etc.

The greatest problems in this region are over exploitation of forest and strong cold violent wind called BLIZZARDS.

NOTE:

A type of over exploitation of forest is called deforestation and it is defined as; the cutting down of trees by man without replacement.

4. THE POLAR REGION

This region is divided into Tundra and Ice cap region.

1.       The Tundra region is located between latitude 65^o and 80^o north and south of the equator. Example includes Alaska and Antarctica.

Physical characteristics

• Climate: it is called the Tundra climate characterized by low temperature, low precipitation and strong cold wind called Blizzard.
• Soil: it is called Tundra soil which is thin and permanently frozen and poorly drained.
• Vegetation: it is made up of low lying plants. It has small plants, small leaves and species include herbs, lichens, mosses etc.

Human activities

The main activities here include; fishing and hunting of reindeer and polar bears by the Eskimos.

            The problem in this region includes;

• Harsh climate with long and harsh wind
• Frozen soil
• Strong cold wind Blizzard
• Low population density

2. The ice cap region

           It is located 80^o and 90^o north and south e.g. Greenland, Antarctica.

There is no vegetation here because of permanent frost.